Disruptive Mood Disorder Analysis

The implementation of Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine has allowed for great hope for the children who struggle with ADHD. Many scientists and doctors search for a way to lessen the burden of ADHD on children. They compile and complete many studies in which they test different alternatives to treat this disorder. The results of one of many clinical studies completed by Savill states, “Nevertheless, in a clinical study of 36 youths with ADHD [mean (standard

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most widely diagnosed “mental-illness” in children in the United States today, and approximately 99% of children diagnosed are prescribed daily doses of methylphenidate in order to control undesirable behaviors. (Stolzer)

In this day and age, drugs are being prescribed without hesitation. In fact, many of these drugs are being prescribed for children with various disorders. One of these disorders is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An estimated five to ten percent of children are diagnosed with this syndrome (Taylor 11). One of the methods to treat this disorder is to use stimulants, specifically Ritalin. This method is controversial because it has many side effects and its long-term effects are unknown. It can also lead to addiction. Approximately two to three percent of elementary school children are taking some kind of stimulant to treat ADHD (Taylor 64). Since so many children are taking this medication, new problems have arisen.

Every parent who has a child suffering from a psychological disorder that affects their behavior dreads a new school year. This means new teachers not aware of the disorder, more parent-teacher conferences, and more pressure to medicate the child. The most common and well known behavioral disorders are Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

(“ADD”) (Kinman). This is because children with ADHD have a lower brain volume than children who do not, especially in regions of the brain responsible for attention and emotion (Kinman). Dopamine and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that help send messages between areas of brain associated with attention and motivation. The brain of a person with ADHD may have less of these chemicals available. This may explain why someone with ADHD has trouble paying attention or performing repetitive tasks. (Kinman) When people with ADHD are prescribed methylphenidate (a stimulant), it helps increase the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. This increase in the level of neurotransmitters seems to improve attentiveness and motivation. Inattentive type symptoms include daydreaming, becoming easily confused, having difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others, seeming not to listen when spoken to, and more. Hyperactive-impulsive type symptoms may include fidgeting, talking nonstop, have trouble sitting still for sustained periods of time, being very impatient and

As in adults, depression in children and adolescents is treatable. Certain antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can be beneficial to children and adolescents with MDD. Certain psychotherapy modules also have been shown to be effective. However, our awareness of antidepressant treatments in children and adolescents, though growing substantially, is incomplete compared to our knowledge about treating depression in adults.

Unlike some disorders that tend to be missed due to lack of “signs,” DMDD has several obvious signs to help distinguish it. Some of the obvious tell-tale signs of DMDD are, temper outbursts that occur more than twice a week, an upset mood on a daily basis, over board and dramatic reactions over little things, and difficulty functioning in every-day life. To get a diagnosis of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, the child must be “at least six years old, have symptoms

Anxiety disorders involve fears that are uncontrollable, unreasonable to the actual danger the person might be in, and interferes with their ordinary life. Symptoms associated with anxiety involve jumpiness, nervousness, trembling, hyperactivity, and agitation. Anxiety causes distress and as a result can intensify symptoms of ASD and cause behavioral difficulties including tantrums, aggression and self-injury. Not all children with ASD will develop anxiety, therefore there are potential benefits of understanding the mechanisms whereby anxiety develops and of identifying which young people are most vulnerable (Conner, C., Maddox, B., & White, S.,

A central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, methylphenidate—more commonly known as Ritalin—is drug prescribed in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) ((1)). AD/HD, by definition, is "developmentally inappropriate behavior, including poor attention skills, impulsivity, and hyperactivity" sustained for more than 6 months, appearing usually during childhood2

An online article posted on the Scientific American Mind’s website. The focus of this article is about the function and effects of stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall on the human body. Because children with ADHD are hyperactive and impulsive, stimulant medication is prescribed because it stimulates parts of the brain that are responsible for attention and self-control (Higgins, 2009). According to the article, studies conducted on animals have shown that the active ingredient in these medicines, which is methylphenidate, puts the user at a higher risk for depression and anxiety in adulthood due to the function of the drugs on the brain. Due to this, the article supports the notion that doctors should be cautious when prescribing

To add to that, the research that has been conducted on the disorder has led to a variety of effective treatments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2014) the most widely used medication is a stimulant. There is a wide variety of stimulants available for ADHD subjects. Although, with these stimulants come side effects including sleep problems, decreased appetite, anxiety and other diverse uncommon side effects (NIMH, 2014). Stimulants tend to calm children with ADHD. However, these medications can be detrimental to the patient in many ways. Certain medications have been subject to abuse, including Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are in some cases abused by patients who are over diagnosed. Since these patients do not have the disorder they can feel the side effects and use the drug to achieve a certain kind of high. When using these drugs for non-medical purposes they can seem to replicate the effects of cocaine

13 adult patients were examined before and after the intake of methylphenidate (MPH). The results indicate that MPH normalized the startle response in patients with ADHD when they previously had a deficiency. MPH is often used to positively “impact… ADHD symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity in adult patients.” The study was not tested blindly, but indicates efficacy of the drug. The authors state that the next step of the process would be a “double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled design” with a large sample of ADHD patients for better statistical

well-being of children taking ADHD medications are unidentified. The signals of potential harm from newly developed medications, and a shortage of information regarding licensed medications from decades ago. These factors are related to the serious unfavorable issues such as suicidality and cardiac death. Cardiovascular effects from psychopharmacological treatment can affect children with ADHD executive functioning.

In fact, many symptoms of AD/HD are key features in many toddlers and children, such as hyperactivity, the inability to control emotions, impulsivity, difficulty adapting to change. In particular, the over diagnoses of AD/HD in toddlers have made an epidemic in labels. But, there is definitely a key difference between a normal child who exhibits these symptoms, and a child or even a

Those children that are diagnosed with ADHD are usually prescribed psycho-stimulant medications, such as ‘methylphenidate’, otherwise known as ‘Ritalin’, as the primary method of treatment. (Chandler, 2010).