The ADD/ADHD Controversy

630 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: adhd research studies

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders. ADHD is a broad term, and the condition can vary from person to person. There are an estimated 6.4 million diagnosed children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), though this is considered an outdated term. The American Psychiatric Association released the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) in May 2013. The DSM-5 changed the criteria necessary to diagnose someone with ADHD.

Now after explaining what is ADD/ADHD we are ready to cover the controversy surrounding it. As this topic is vast and you may find a lot of different reasons to discredit this disorder and psychiatry in generally I would try to focus on the main and most prevalent discussions. Covering the criticism around the way of diagnosis, history, policies in the US and UK, the media and finally as a conclusion end this essay with my final humble opinion on the matter and hopefully have helped you to reach a decision.

Diagnosis and History

One of the most controversial parts of ADD/ADHD is how it is diagnosed, for one and as stated earlier there is no physical tests to confirm you have the disorder. Secondly, there is no established single cause and the existing method of assessment is not standardized meaning one psychiatrist may use a written test while others may depend on what parents and teachers say, and what one psychiatrist classify as ADHD another may not. Thirdly there are other problems, which can cause behavioral concerns such as dyslexia, hearing problems, family problems, depression and anxiety (Rutherfor...

... middle of paper ...

...ut of control, destructive, spiteful and unsociable.

List of references:

1. Kinman, T. (2012). ADHD and ADD: Differences, Types, Symptoms, and Severity. Healthline. Retrieved on December 3, 2013, from

http://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/difference-between-add-and-adhd#1

2. Martin, B. (2007). Causes of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). Psych Central. Retrieved on December 3, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/causes-of-attention-deficit-disorder-adhd/0001202

3. Quinn, P. (2012). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Is ADHD?. WebMD. Retrieved on December 3, 2013, from

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd

4. Rutherford, D. (2010). Why is ADHD controversial? NetDoctor. Retrieved on December 3, 2013, from

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/adhd/whyisadhdcontroversial.htm#ixzz2njkBw4Ik

Show More
Related

  • Kids Health Website Review Essay

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). (2004). In The concise Corsini encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.credoreference.com.library.gcu.edu%3A2048%2Fcontent%2Fentry%2Fwileypsych%2Fadhd_attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder%2F0

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast ADD And ADHD

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the early eighties, children were being diagnosed with a mental illness that consistently brings them out of focus. The mental illness was later named, ADD or ADHD, and not known as an illness but as a disorder. Soon enough ADD was no longer used for diagnoses and became considered an outdated term among doctors. Therefore, instead of ADD and ADHD being two different types of disorders they are now both claimed as attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Although these two types of deficits have inattention difficulties as the primary symptom, they both can not be combined due to ADD having its own preferences on what makes the child or adult inattentive in day to day situations.

    Read More

  • ADHD a Rhetorical Essay

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    ADHD is an exceedingly real diagnosis for many children in the United States. Are we over diagnosing our little ones just to keep from dealing with unpleasant behavior? “ On average 1 of every 10 to 15 children in the United States has been diagnosed with the disorder, and 1 in every 20 to 25 uses a stimulant medication” (Mayes, Bagwell, & Erkulwater, 2008). Several believe that virtually all ADHD diagnoses are retractable with appropriate discipline of children instead of being so hasty in medicating them. The material found on the CDC website describes facts about ADHD, it clarifies the signs, symptoms, types, causes, diagnosis tools, and treatment forms of ADHD. What the article neglects to go into is the reality that there is a considerable amount of controversy surrounding ADHD. The CDCs usage of ethos, pathos, and logos and by what method the website manipulates them to affect the reader will be the basis of this paper.

    Read More

  • Central Nervous System Stimulant: Ritalin

    1557 Words  | 4 Pages

    Martin, B. (2007). Treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). Psych Central. Retrieved on April 24, 2014, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/treatment-for-attention-deficit-disorder-adhd/0001204

    Read More

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” Tish Davidson, AM., Teresa G. Odle., and Laura Jean Cataldo, RN, Ed.D. The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. 3rd Edition. 2010.

    Read More

  • The Overdiagnosis of ADD/ADHD

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stolzer, PhD, J. M. (2007). The ADHD Epidemic in America. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 9, 109-116.

    Read More

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    National Institute of Mental Health (1999). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Retrieved April 2, 2003 from www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm#adhd3

    Read More

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    As such no single etiology has been identified for ADHD. ADHD is a heterogeneous condition currently thought to result from a complex interaction between the psychosocial stressors, environmental factors, neuro-chemical/ neuro-anatomical factors, familial and genetic factors.

    Read More

  • ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    ADHD, or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. There are many symptoms associated with ADHD but the most common include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. Scientists are not exactly sure of what causes ADHD but they are more comfortable with the idea that a lot of different factors play a role in its development, such as, genes, environment, brain injuries, sugar, and food additives. The most widely used treatment is the drugs but this is not the only way to treat ADHD.

    Read More

  • Giving Children ADHD Medication

    1641 Words  | 4 Pages

    “What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD)?” National Institute of Mental Health. National Institutes of Health. Web. 6 March 2014.

    Read More

  • Overview of ADHD

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smith, M., Segel, J., & Ramsey, D. (2013, 9). Add / adhd medications. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_medications.htm

    Read More

  • adhd in the health care setting

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    Laver-Bradbury, C. (2013). ADHD in children: An overview of treatment. Nurse Prescribing, 11(12), 597-601. Retrieved from ProQuest database.

    Read More

  • The Existence of ADD and ADHD

    4006 Words  | 9 Pages

    While the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association) put forth a list of behaviors which predominantly fall in the category of ADD and/or ADHD, many researchers still maintain that there is no set way to diagnosis or develop a treatment program to these disorders which will be guaranteed to work. At the same time there is another set of researchers who maintain that these disorders actually do not exist at all. However, in the real world, parents and educators still continue to struggle with the task of coping with children who are hyperactive and who have very low attention span and whose behavior often interferes with schooling and family life. [Armstrong, 1997]

    Read More

  • Essay On ADHD

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    ADHD can be treated in a couple of different ways. ADHD is a disorder that can not be cured. Symptoms of ADHD are controlled with medications, various types of psychotherapy, education or training, or a combination of treatments. With one of these treatments or a mixture of treatments people with ADHD can learn to be successful in school or the work environment and have productive lives.

    Read More

  • Is ADHAD Over-Diagnosed?

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    There has been an ongoing debate about whether the mental disorder ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is over-diagnosed. ADHD is commonly diagnosed in people, more specifically children, who lack the ability to pay attention, are often disruptive, are hyperactive, and impulsive. A medical personnel or a psychologist diagnoses the children using a list of criteria. It is only in recent years that doctors have begun researching better and more effective ways to diagnosis patients using brain scans. It is because of this, that ADHD is over-diagnosed for several reasons: the different personalities that children can exhibit; parents not taking responsibility as parents; and the lack of proper ways to identify ADHD.

    Read More

More about The ADD/ADHD Controversy

Open Document