Brain Diseases and Disorders

23

threat in terms of risky health behaviors. In these people, risky behaviors

such as accidents, suicide attempts, and violence are determined and evalu-

ated [173]. People with ADHD have cognitive impairments similar to people

with traumatic frontal lobe damage, but they do not exhibit obvious pathol-

ogy. As a result of poor executive functions, frontal lobe disinhibition occurs,

and individuals with ADHD remain risk-taking adolescents rather than adults

[174].

Neuropsychological testing of patients with ADHD shows problems with

response inhibition. The capacity to suppress the expected physical or mental

response has the effect of keeping impulsive responses in check. The neu-

ropsychological impairment in adults with ADHD increases as cognitive needs

increase or as tasks become more complex. This explains why adult patients

seek treatment when challenging changes occur in their lives [175]. Dopamine

and noradrenaline are involved in related cognitive functions that require ad-

equate arousal and focus, such as motivation, interest, and learning [173].

Prefrontal noradrenergic pathways mediate energy, fatigue, motivation, and

interest processes, as well as their role in maintaining and focusing attention.

Mesocortical dopamine projection is important for verbal fluency, sequential

learning, alertness for executive functions, maintaining and focusing attention,

prioritizing behaviors, and adjusting behaviors according to social behavior

patterns. Arousal is usually associated with an increase in dopamine and no-

radrenaline, and inattention reflects the inadequacy of the neurotransmitters

mentioned in these pathways [82].

1.8.4

Major Depressive Disorders (MDD)

Major depressive disorders (MDD) are syndromes that include mood dis-

orders, symptoms, and symptom clusters. These diseases can last weeks to

months, drastically alter a person’s ordinary functioning, and have a ten-

dency to reoccur on a regular or cyclical basis [176]. MDD is one of the most

studied depressive disorders [177]. One of the syndromes that determines the

clinical appearance of mood disorders is depression. The word depression is an

emotional experience that includes the feelings of grief used in meanings such

as collapse, feeling sad, and decrease in functional and vital activity [178]. Ev-

ery similar emotional state that arises should not be considered as depression.

Depression imposes a heavy burden on society in terms of treatment costs,

and these are due to expenditures such as treatment process, insufficiency in

functionality and suicide [179]. Depression is typified by depressive and hope-

less feelings, as well as psychomotor slowdown, which is a lack of energy in

both the mental and physical domains and is usually expressed as an inability

to enjoy routine activities and once-pleasurable situations as well as a loss of

interest in them. It shows itself as a reduction in mental content, a notice-

able slowdown in cognitive performance, and diminished functionality [178].

MDD (unipolar depression) is the most common mood disorder. Although the

course of acute episodes is good in most patients, relapses persist throughout