Thomas Powers, Ph.D., presented today on “Family-School Success: a Psychosocial Intervention for Students with ADHD” When I saw this workshop advertised, I first thought “oh no, another talk about medication effects on ADHD Symptoms”. I was right and I was wrong. Mostly wrong!

Dr. Powers’ presentation did talk about medications and improvement of ADHD symptoms for children. He also said that there is limited evidence that medication alone can help students gain academic skills over time, despite reduced symptoms. that woke me up! Everyone knows that psycho-stimulants reduce ADHD symptoms in 75% of children with this disorder. Everyone assumes that learning improves if ADHD symptoms are reduced. Dr. Powers presented research that suggests “everyone” is not correct. in short, reduction of ADHD symptoms does not always improve academic learning or life success.

Dr. Powers did a nice job of providing a brief overview of ADHD – genetic vulnerability and environmental interaction, and the current medical/behavioral treatments for this problem. in answer to a question from a participant, he acknowledged that the prevalence of ADHD has increased in the past 10-20 years. He suggested that improved survival rates for low-birth weight infants, increased expectations/standards of pre-school programs, and increased exposure to “environmental toxins” (stress) for young children contribute to the increased diagnostic prevalence for ADHD. He was also careful to acknowledge the impact of “co-morbid” conditions such as anxiety, oppositional defiance, learning disabilities, and other diagnoses, serve as complications for cause and treatment of ADHD.

Getting back to the title of the presentation, Dr. Powers presented a recent study that showed the importance of the parent-child relationship, the parent – teacher relationship and child-teacher relationship to decrease ADHD symptoms and to improve learning and peer relationships. Dr. Powers Presented results from the Family-School Success (FSS) study that was recently concluded. this study was supported, in part by the National Institute for Mental Health. Specifically, this study compares children receiving a traditional treatment for ADHD with Children receiving the FSS model of treatment. Parents were given the option of medication or no medication in both treatments. in short, the results indicate that the FSS model helps the student with ADHD improve in parent-child relationships, parent-teacher relationships, student teacher relationships, reduced ADHD symptoms and improved academic learning. Life success has not yet been measured.

In general, the scientist-practitioner model was supported in this workshop. Both a researcher and a clinician, Dr. Power was quick to point out that research, although important, took a back-seat to the clinical needs of the kids. He rejected or eliminated many children from the results of the study due to their clinical needs. during the presentation, Dr. Power provided succinct answers to questions from the quiet and attentive audience. He managed questions well to stay within the time allowed for the workshop. He also freely acknowledged limitations of the study, and was excited about the future of this research. I enjoyed his presentation.

PS: the last FCP Workshop on “Attachment Based Family Therapy” talked about the importance of relationship and bonding with the parent or caregiver. I suspect that the behavioral health field has returned to the importance of “rapport” as a necessary ingredient regardless of technique in parent training, psychotherapy, and education. Am I overstepping boundaries here? please let me know!

This is part of an ongoing series of real life success stories from people all over the world who have been impacted by the Paleo lifestyle and the Paleo Solution. Read Ben’s story below.

It was a real pleasure to meet you at Art’s book talk in Soho. I’ve been a listener since episode # 1 and I want to thank you again and let you know that the work you’ve done has helped me in ways that far exceed the benefits of nutritional guidance…

I, like you, was an athlete and a trainer. I wrote a fitness column for a newspaper out of college, and I’d always prided myself an example of robust health. also, like you, I lost my health in my twenties, and, in an all-out attempt to regain it, set off down a path that would take me through just about every medical and dietary paradigm imaginable.

In my case, catastrophe struck in the form of a tick bite that I never new I had. – It took dozens of doctors and several years of debilitating symptoms before I received a diagnosis of late-stage, Neurological Lyme disease (an ever increasing epidemic that half the medical community claims doesn’t exist). – And once I did find a “lyme literate” MD, who believed that my crippling fatigue, migrating pain, bouts of paralysis, and multiple brain lesions might be something more then a psychosomatic response, his only solution was to soak me in a steady stream of oral, Intra-muscular, and Intravenous antibiotics for 3 years straight; after which time I’d, not only innihilated my gut flora, but also forced the Lyme-bacteria deeper into my cells where it was effectively blocked from further treatment by a thick layer of systemic candida overgrowth. (eating a “clean” detoxifying vegan diet of fruits nuts and whole grains, in retrospect, was the worst thing I could’ve been doing during this whole time) Yup – at age 26, too weak to walk the length of a city block, and too brain-fogged to tie my own shoos (seriously), I considered myself pretty much screwed.

It wasn’t until after I went strict paleo for a year that my candida levels eventually came down to a point where I could successfully get through to, and treat the Lyme using gentle homeopathic methods that, when implemented in the right context (low-carb paleo diet) have proven to be incredibly successful! (hence my making it out to the book talk event : )

So, yes, you may now say that the paleo diet even played a major role in rescuing someone from the depths of the rabbit hole that is the world of chronic Lyme – but, honestly, what helped me the most from listening to you is the confidence I gained to pursue my own path toward health no matter what!

The world of chronic Lyme is fraught with taboos, politics, and pre-conceived notions of treatment. your podcast, Andy and Robb, and your personal story Robb, inspired me to never give up; to ask all the essential questions in the face of dogmatic medical practices and demand answers; to be skeptical about everything and never settle when my health is at stake until I found a way that worked for me.. and ultimately, saved my own life.

I Thank you both infinitely for all your sound advice but more then that, for your message of personal empowerment. you are truly leading a ground-up revolution that inspires people to do what it takes to save their own skin… And I’m living proof of that. All the best and good seeing you Robb!

- Ben

Do you have a life-changing story you’d like to share? Send it in via this form and we may share it on the blog!

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