Abstract:
An estimated 3% to 10% of school children meet the DSM-V criteria for ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), however, to be over-diagnosed, the rate of children inappropriately diagnosed with ADHD (false positives) would have to be larger than the number of children with ADHD who are under-identified and not diagnosed (false negatives). Accordingly, a number of investigators take the position that under-treatment with psychostimulants, especially in children and adolescence, will result in continued ADHD symptomatology including future Substance Use Disorder (SUD). However, other researchers and clinicians believe otherwise and espouse laudable arguments for caution and prolonged methylphenidate or other psychostimulant treatment. While there is ongoing controversy of the role of genetics and epigenetics linked to ADHD, it seems clear that a number of dopaminergic genes and their risk polymorphisms act as DNA antecedents impacted by epigenetic induced methylation. Our hypothesis and literature review suggest that one possible solution is to embrace non addictive interventions to induce global dopamine homeostasis.
Audience Take Away Notes:
The audience will learn about the genetic antecedents of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the importance of genetic prescreening for prevention of Reward Deficiency Syndrome which is the hypodopaminergic state which is the real phenotype of mental health disorder endotypes like Substance Use Disorder. The new psychiatric genomic science helps to identify medications which are right for the individual brain. In all cases for children especially nutraceutical interventions are preferred over pharmaceutical interventions. A diet devoid of sugar and caffeine is the most prudent. Addressing the genetically induced dopamine deficiency state of RDS in early children will hopefully prevent future manifestation of Substance Use Disorders.
Biography:
Elizabeth Dale Gilley earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Wake Forest University, in 1983, while lettering in Women’s Varsity Tennis. She also holds a paralegal degree in corporate law, with a bankruptcy specialty. After serving as Assistant to the Chairman her father, James Gilley, she left his tutelage to incorporate The Elle Foundation, in 1995, in Dallas, Texas. The original mission statement was to help stop the generational cycle of addiction.
After years of studying the financials of treatment centers and psychiatric hospitals, she established the Elle Foundation Award of Excellence, in 2000, to showcase innovation and novel contributions of those who are raising the bar above the 1950’s Minnesota Model industry standard. This award is still given today, not for the scientists or doctors, but for those who are still suffering to offer hope that solutions are forthcoming.
She returned to academia in her 50’s earning a Masters in General Psychology (2017) and a Post Masters Specialty in Addictions from North Central University (2019), both with a GPA higher than Magna Cum Laude. She is presently a Ph.D candidate at National University, where her focus is upon the neuroscience and neurobiology of addiction. She has created psychological applications: therapy and psychoeducation for the new Reward Dysfunction Syndrome paradigm, and the RDS Severity of Symptom measurement tool, which may prove to be a behavioral marker for recovery and/or reinstatement.
In 2004, she unincorporated the Elle Foundation, making it a private nonprofit, and considers it her personal altruism. She as created two new divisions, Elle Research and Elle Resource. While still conducting longitudinal research from the 100s series, Elle Research is developing its 200s series: Qualitative Exploratory Multiple Case Study to investigate the experiences of dually diagnosed patients, in the substance use disorder/ psychological/psychiatric industry which services one size fits all treatment, with pharmaceutical trial and error. The 200s series will also include quantitative study of the same participates to investigate the effectiveness of Psychiatric/Psychological Genomics, RDS solution focused brief therapy and the RDS SOS.
Elle Resource will deliver these therapeutic advancements to the public, both locally and internationally through teletherapy, focusing upon psychological genomics for patients with dopaminergic RDS mental health clusters. The Elle Foundation’s Dragon Slayer and Bridge Builder Ministry is reopening, in the fall of 2024, in Palm Beach Country to provide children’s and family services, introducing the new RDS paradigm, in a psychoeducation art therapy format.
She has published consistently in peer review for the past 7 years and has presented at the past 3 global conferences on addiction medicine, behavioral health and psychiatry. She also serves as a global conference scientific committee member.
