ADHD brain chemistry clue found

US researchers have pinned down new differences in the brain chemistry of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

They found ADHD patients lack key proteins which allow them to experience a sense of reward and motivation.

The Brookhaven National Laboratory study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It is hoped it could help in the design of new ways to combat the condition.

Previous research looking at the brains of people with ADHD had uncovered differences in areas controlling attention and hyperactivity. 

But this study suggests ADHD has a profound impact elsewhere in the brain too.

Researcher Dr Nora Volkow said: "These deficits in the brain's reward system may help explain clinical symptoms of ADHD, including inattention and reduced motivation, as well as the propensity for complications such as drug abuse and obesity among ADHD patients."

The researchers compared brain scans of 53 adult ADHD patients who had never received treatment with those from 44 people who did not have the condition.

All of the participants had been carefully screened to eliminate factors which could potentially skew the results.

Dyslexic policeman 'victimised'

Above Ch Insp Haynes

A senior police officer has told an employment tribunal that he was "victimised" because he is dyslexic.

Ch Insp Phillip Haynes, 42, of Gloucestershire Police, says he was passed over for promotion after he raised the condition with his bosses. 

Mr Haynes claims a letter detailing extra time he needed to pass his superintendent exam prejudiced the promotion board against him. 

The force told the hearing in Bristol that they had tried to help Mr Haynes. 

Victoria von Wachter, representing Gloucestershire Police, said the force had done a lot to assist Mr Haynes during the selection process. 

'Not fit'

Mr Haynes, of Newnham-on-Severn, said he first became aware that he might have been dyslexic when he was 12. 

After twice failing the interview stage for promotion to inspector, he sought help from a dyslexia expert who wrote to Gloucestershire Police asking for special allowances to be put in place for Mr Haynes in his day-to-day duties and in future interview situations.

Mr Haynes said he thought this communication "caused the [promotion] board members to decide that I was not fit to be a senior police officer". 

He said he felt "victimised" after his next promotion application was failed at the paper application stage.

He was also unhappy at subsequently being moved from being an acting superintendent back to being a chief inspector. 

The former soldier, who joined the county's constabulary in 1989, said: "I have found my treatment to be extremely distressing." 

The hearing continues.

Source: BBC