The Current Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders

The increase of ADHD diagnosis has raised many concerns among doctors in the United States. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported new data that showed the number of children diagnosed with ADHD grew by 22 percent in a four-year period Brown University, (2013). The information from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) raised questions and concerns about the growth of ADHD diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also stated that the percentage of children with a diagnosis of ADHD continue to increase in the United States. This information was provided by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to inform the public and raise awareness for ADHD. Researching the growth of

Balentine, and Donald R. Lynam worked in attempt to prove that under the DSM diagnosis for ADHD, ADHD-I should not be categorized under the ADHD umbrella in their 2001 article titled, ADHD Combined Type and ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type Are Distinct and Unrelated. While their goal was to demonstrate that ADHD-I should be removed from the ADHD classification and is distinct and unrelated to ADHD, they acknowledge the need for research to further examine the variances within the currently labeled disorder. Removing a disorder from a classification is no small task. The ripple effect is large in terms of the documentation required as well as the new approach to treatment and prevention that would be required. If Milich et al. (2001) are clearly stating the need for additional research, then they are also recognizing an information gap. To ask for such a wide-reaching change to be applied when additional research is clearly necessary, is irresponsible. The research attained needs to confirm accuracy prior to making such a far-reaching

These symptoms might represent expressions of internalized conflict or unmet emotional or educational needs that differ from child to child. Each child ideally should have a full medical, educational, and psychologic or psychiatric evaluation, prior to drugs being introduced and giving to the child. There isn’t a neuropsychological test result is that shows someone has ADHD, and no genetic indicator has been steadily recognized, and heritability studies are confounded by household environmental aspects. Furman concluded t after careful review of the evidence obtainable; it is not obvious that ADHD is either a disease or a neurobehavioral condition. ADHD is an assortment of symptoms, namely, inattention, impulsivity, and over activity, that overlay with other major and minor mental health

It is widely agreed that ADHD is over diagnosed. According to the study, only 22 percent of 92 children referred to an ADHD clinic actually met the criteria. Furthermore, numerous arguments would urge the general public and the medical community that what has been proven is a large varying degree of severity of the condition. In turn, the symptoms may be expressed in every person, only with varying intensity. Although no conclusive evidence is currently available to prove the existence of the genetic disorder, no concrete evidence dispels its existence either. Still, the fact that the disorder has passed through a crowd of names, including organic drivenness, hyperkinetic syndrome, attention-deficit disorder and now ADHD provides evidence on

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, has become a very prevalent mental disorder in children across the United States. In fact, as of 2011, 11 percent of all children ages four to seventeen had been diagnosed with ADHD (“ADHD Throughout the Years”). With the growing number of children diagnosed, the number of people skeptical of the amount of stimulants being handed out also grew. One problem is the vagueness of the definition. One dictionary defines ADHD as, “a condition, usually in children, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness” (“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”). When describing young children in general, many people might use words like “inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness” as

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder. ADHD is characterized by the inability to pay attention, extreme hyperactivity, impulsivity, difficulty controlling behavior, and not acting appropriate for the standards of one’s age. The cause of ADHD is unknown, however it is suggested that it is caused by certain environmental and genetic factors. ADHD is diagnosed using the criteria in the most recent DSM (The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders), the DSM-5. The DSM-5 lists out long term symptoms that may be indicative of ADHD, and the individual must meet at least six of these nine symptoms. The symptoms must have been present by the age of six to twelve, and must be present in more than one situation. The symptoms must cause social, work, or school problems, and must also not be normal for the age of the individual. ADHD can be treated with either therapy or psychoactive drugs, or a combination of the two.

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is one of the hardest challenges I have ever faced. Having been diagnosed at the age of seven, it is the most prevalent thing in my life. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed psychological disorder in the United States (Hughes). It is a persistent disorder, often prevalent through adolescence and adulthood. Most individuals diagnosed are between the ages of seven and nine, although there have been numerous cases where individuals have been diagnosed in their later years. Case studies show that males are four times more likely to be diagnosed/affected with ADHD, and lately, studies have shown an unexplained increase in the number of diagnoses made in children. It has been recognized that in the past, people have scoffed at the diagnosis of ADHD, and even disregarding and bashing the disorder, calling it things like, “a real medical hoax”(Citation). These individuals, however, are severely misguided, seeing as though ADHD is a real disorder, and it affects millions of people worldwide in present day. There have been neurological studies studying and showing that ADHD is, in fact, neurologically related, and it is most likely caused by chemical imbalances in individual’s brains (Citation). One greatly debated question in the world of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is, “Can an individual that was diagnosed with ADHD eventually outgrow it?” One side of this argument states that an individual that has been

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a neurobehavioral development disorder diagnosed by a number of symptoms. ADHD cannot be diagnosed until seen by a doctor. There is no simple test for ADHD, however there is a standardize way that ADHD is diagnosed. For someone to be diagnosed with ADHD the person must have six inattention and six hyperactive impulsive behavior for it least six months. To a degree where it’s inconsistent with development level and that negatively impacts directly on social, academic and occupational activities. There is a number of symptoms such as fidgetiness individuals with ADHD have. Unfinished

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is contemporary defined in the DSM-IV-TR published by the American Psychiatric Association. According to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM–IV–TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) characterized by "inattention and/ or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development” (p78).

The primary tool used to diagnose ADHD is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5). Unlike the DSM 5, its predecessors including the DSM-II 1968, DSM-III 1980, DSM-III-TR 1987, DSM-IV 1994 and DSM-IV-TR 2000 did not include diagnostic criteria for adults. Considered a childhood disorder ADHD was often overlooked in the adult population (Mueller & Asherson, 2012). There have been several changes made to the diagnostic criteria for ADHD in the DSM-5 which now includes adults affected by the disorder. Changes include adding examples to the criteria to facilitate application across the lifespan; the age of onset has been changed from age 7 to age 12, this gives more reliable childhood recall of difficulties; subtypes have

Early inception of prime uniqueness: The specific symptoms of ADHD materialize to arise on average age of 3 to 6 years of childhood. The particular symptoms like impulsive behavior and hyperactivity is associated with disorder. Some other characteristics may appear in the age of 13 years.

ADHD is one of the most studied psychiatric disorder, and one of the most common cognitive disorders, yet there are still concerns and questions about the validity of ADHD diagnosis. The truth is, there is no one simple test for ADHD. To be diagnosed with this disorder, a person must meet criteria described in DSM 5. How do we know if a person met the criteria? Well, it is simple, the clinical picture is drawn by patients’ (or parents’, teachers’) subjective description of symptoms. Yes, the diagnosis is made solely based on individual perception and opinion of child’s family. No one really know the etiology of ADHD. Some studies indicate that multiple genes may contribute to the development of this complex disease, however they only explained only small percentage of genetic component of ADHD and need more future research.

ADHD is most commonly identified and treated in children 6 through 12 years of age. There is now emerging evidence to expand the age range to include preschool-aged children and adolescents (Attention-Deficit, 2011). There

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is commonly diagnosed in childhood and affects approximately 5% of children worldwide (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Once thought to be a disruptive behavior problem, it is now believed to be a neuropsychological disorder that results from abnormalities within the brain and manifests as functional deficits (Barkley, 1997). These deficits result in symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. Current diagnostic criteria for ADHD include 18 symptoms that are defined by these three core clusters (APA, 2013). ADHD usually manifests during childhood, however it persists into adolescence and adulthood in an estimated 35%-70% of cases (Adler & Cohen, 2004; Barkley, Fischer, Smallish, & Fletcher, 2002; Kessler et al., 2005) and affects approximately 2.5% of adults worldwide (APA, 2013). The prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated to be between 4% and 5% in the United States, amounting to approximately 9.4 million adults (Faraone, Spencer, Montano, & Biederman, 2004).

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, affects about “5% of children and about 2.5% of adults” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 61). “The main features of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity, or a combination of both” (Grohol, 2013).