Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) a Real Disorder?

Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) a Real Disorder?

Introduction

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Deficit (ADHD) refers to a condition whereby a child experiences differences in brain development. Differences in brain activity affect the child’s ability to observe attention, thus one may have challenges in sitting still and self-control. According to research done, it is evident that around two million children in the U.S.A have this problem. For them to cope with the situation and become successful, special care is needed for them by their parents and teachers. This paper will evaluate and determine if ADHD is a real disorder or not and understand the best method of treatment.

Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health proposes that ADHD is a genuine disorder that needs to be addressed delicately, and thus a child should be treated. In contrast to this, Timimi and Radcliffe differ by noting that ADHD is not a medical disorder. Their argument is based upon the basis that ADHD does not show biological causes. They further argue that ADHD is a socially constructed illness that was created by western society.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) has been used over time to classify and put into clusters different types of mental disorders depending on the symptoms. It has been vital in establishing mental disorders and dismissing some disorders while giving some attention to other disorders that need to be reviewed and discussed. ADHD was diagnosed in DSM-111 around thirty years ago. There have been various discussions to establish if ADHD is a real disorder and criticism of the legitimacy of pharmacological treatment administered to patients. People worry if that the disorder may be a mistaken identity for children’s curiosity and adventure. Medical experts at the National Institute of Mental Health indicate that it is normal for a kid to be distracted, but excess distractions and struggle to concentrate at that tender age indicate a mental disorder. They also add that medication is essential to an affected child, and it will help the child in later life…

Some people also tend to think that ADHD is a result of boredom. This is evident when a child may become bored in one activity or lesson and turn out to perform excellently in another. The argument that comes up is that children should be investigated in order to reveal their interests so that their potential can be exploited fully.

Analysis and response

The main symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms can also be signs of other sicknesses, but if they persist in a long time, a child should be taken for ADHD diagnosis. A child may be restless, cannot concentrate on one activity, fidgeting with hands or the feet, not following instructions, or even responding before the question is entirely posed to them. A lack of scientifically proven tests showing ADHD to be a mental disorder should disqualify its pharmaceutical treatment until evidence is arrived at indicating that it is indeed a mental disorder.

Experts in mental health conduct the diagnosis of ADHD. They come and establish facts, and their task is to identify if a child has been going through mental stress. This can arise from a past occurrence, such as the death of a parent or divorce of the parents. Next is to collect the information about the child’s behavior and compare it with the diagnostic criteria and symptoms. If a child is found with this disorder, he/she is placed under the medication and the guardians taken through an educational guideline on how to handle the child. Its cause is still not well understood but has been linked to genetics. Research suggests that most of the children that have ADHD have probably inherited it from the genes of their parents. This is evidenced by some family members having ADHD in the past. Research is still being undertaken to understand the disorder fully. Stimulants are the medication that has been used to treat this disorder over time. They are effective since they help reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. Psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and social skills training have been incorporated in treating ADHD patients. These procedures help even adults who are diagnosed with ADHD, accept themselves, and live better lives.

Timimi and Radcliffe differ on ADHD being a medical disorder since it has no precise biological cause and thus should not be treated using medication. They are against the use of stimulants to treat the disease, which sounds more like drug intake. They argue that some physical behaviors such as inattention or hyperactivity are used by medical staff to suggest that a child may have ADHD. The argument they bring up is that even in the U.K, a child may be prescribed stimulant drugs through a parent’s telephone call to a health center. This means that improper diagnosis of ADHD is being carried on; thus, more children being exposed to stimulants even without proper diagnosis, which should take some time. The reason why there is a strong belief that ADHD is a medical disorder is due to the presence of psychology and medicine, which have been used to create that construction.

I think Timimi and Radcliffe are right to discredit ADHD as a mental disorder. This is due to the lack of evidence supporting the mental disorder argument. It is not a disorder, thus people should try and understand one another to solve the problem without the use of medication. If one notices such behavioral issues, the best thing is to change the environment since it might be the root cause of the behavior changes.

The western culture has had a negative impact on children since more drugs have been made readily available through the medical field, which prescribes medicine that is made from drugs. The medical field has been destroying children’s lives by prescribing drugs that are meant to treat a disease that has not been identified. This ruins a child’s life as he/she becomes drug dependent throughout by always seeking medical support from the doctors.

Conclusion

ADHD is termed to be a medical disorder by the National Institute of Mental Health while Timimi and Radcliffe argue it is a western social construct. The treatment of ADHD should be intensified so that people will know its treatment solution. Both arguments are valid until the right answer is arrived at. Doctors should stop administering drugs that have addiction effects since it will eventually lead to another health problem to the patients. The main reason why there is a difference in the two cases is because of a lack of evidence that shows ADHD to be a mental disorder. If ADHD is not a mental disorder, its treatment in hospitals by psychiatrists should be stopped immediately.

Works Cited

National Institute of Mental Health. “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” 2006.

Timimi, Sami, and Nick Radcliffe. “The Rise and Rise of ADHD.” Clinical Psychology, Leicester, 2005.

Peer Review Response

The first comment was about my essay not having the subject matter in the introduction part. I corrected the above comment by adding a thesis statement that clearly explains the areas the essay would cover, giving the reader more precise information about the essay. I also corrected a spelling grammar of the word ADHD, which was previously typed as ADHA.

In the summary part, the reviewer noted that I should incorporate views from people who think ADHD may be caused by things such as boredom and loss of interest in certain activities. I resolved the issue by adding information that gives insights to the group that holds the idea of monitoring children and finding out their areas of interest and their weak concentration areas. The above step will help in eliminating treatment of ADHD using medication from hospitals and over the counter prescription drugs.

For the analysis response, the reviewers’ remarks were to exploit the flaws in the treatment of ADHD to support my argument about the discontinuation of medical treatment to ADHD patients. I, therefore, incorporated facts that support the inaccuracy of ADHD treatment using medication, which is not yet established to be a real mental disorder due to a lack of evidence.

The reviewer also commented on the brief conclusion, which I made to be lengthier, covering all the areas and the arguments in the essay briefly.

On the general comment part, the reviewer put across that I should try and exploit the arguments in the analysis and response part to support my conclusion that ADHD is not a real disorder. I did that by an in-depth explanation of the facts I had stated earlier.