Biological Theory Of Adhd

Introduction
The essay will critically analyse two contrasting theories/approaches to the diagnosis of Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The two approaches are the biological theory which posits that ADHD is a mental disorder that has a biological basis in aetiology and the Social Construct Theory which indicates that ADHD is not a real disorder but a socially constructed explanation for behaviours that are outside social norms. The essay will describe the elements of both theories and then will outline their limitations.

Biological theory/perspective on ADHD
Proponents of the biological theory of ADHD believe that the condition originates from the underdevelopment of the frontal lobe of the brain responsible for decision-making,

A chronological history of the development of the DSM explains shows how classification of mental illnesses has changed from a psychosocial model to one that is biologically based. The first 2 versions of the DSM (DSM-I and DSM-II) were authored by psycho-analysts who took into consideration psychological and social factors as possible causes of mental illness (Healy, 2002). The subsequent two versions - (DSM-III and DSM-IV) - where developed by biological psychiatrist who espoused a classification that ignores socio-cultural influences in favour of a biological understanding of mental health conditions (Healy, 2002). With regards to ADHD, the DSM expanded its definition of ADHD upon the release of DSM III and DSM IV to include further problematic behaviours that it says should count as symptoms of ADHD (Vallée, 2009). The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) on the other hand is an international diagnostic system issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is used by health professionals in several countries in the diagnosis and classification of diseases (WHO, 1993). The ICD-10 is the 10th revision of the ICD and with regards to ADHD it has a higher threshold for diagnosis compared to the DSM-IV (WHO,

It was in the DSM–I (1952) that homosexuality was classified as a sociopathic personality disturbance (Mayes & Horwitz, 2005). Upon the release of the DSM–II, homosexuality was reclassified under personality disorders and related to other nonpsychotic mental disorders (APA, 1968 cited in Mayes & Horwitz, 2005). In the DSM-II patients who performed homosexual acts while imprisoned for at least 1 year without access to the opposite sex were excluded from this diagnosis (APA, 1968 cited in Mayes & Horwitz, 2005). This classification of homosexuality in the USA as a mental health disorder reflected the country’s policy makers’ socially conservative attitude at the time which officially viewed homosexuality as behaviour that was abnormal (Mayes & Horwitz, 2005). According to proponents of the social construct theory, this type of classification and labelling of certain behaviour is being exhibited in the attitude towards ADHD (McGann et al,