Since the reports on the effect of stimulants in controlling motor restlessness, inattention and distractibility, efforts have been made to elucidate the mechanism of action of the stimulants, and pathophysiology of the attention deficit hyperactivity...
Since the reports on the effect of stimulants in controlling motor restlessness, inattention and distractibility, efforts have been made to elucidate the mechanism of action of the stimulants, and pathophysiology of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This review has attempted to summarize biological findings on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, from the fields of neuropharmacology and neuroanatomy.
Most of the studies demonstrated that catecholamine function and its modulation are very probably involved at some level in the pathogenesis and treatment of this disorder. Reports on several neuroanatomical lesions also have implications for the catelcholamine hypothesis of the disorder.
Further studies focusing on the response to stimulants and physiological studies using brain imaging technology will provide more comprehensive model of the pathophysiology of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.