The Misdiagnosis of Children with ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a complicated and interesting history and because of that it is important to understands this disorders implications and comorbidity to better treat and diagnose it. Research done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 11% of the US population between the ages of 4-17 are affected with ADHD; that’s 6.4 million children and the prevalence of diagnosis is only increasing (2016). It was generally assumed that ADHD was something children would grow out of but new studies show that approximately 4% of the adult population in the US are still suffering from ADHD or have developed ADHD (Breyer, J. L., Lee, S., Winters, K. C., August, G. J., & Realmuto, G. M. 2014). ADHD is

Looking at the research methodology, O’Callaghan (2009) clearly and concisely describes the research methods used. For this study, explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used to collect and analysis research data (O’Callaghan, 2009). In the quantitative phase of the study, the researcher used “purposive sampling” to recruit adults diagnosed with ADHD using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria (O’Callaghan, 2009, p.31). The first phase of the study consisted of a sample of 67 adults diagnosed with ADHD (i.e., “22 men and 45 women between the ages 19 to 64”) (O’Callaghan, 2009, p.31). Data was collected using the Adult ADHD Quality of Life Questionnaire (AAQoL), which is a 29-items instrument that measures quality of life (QoL)

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).

Understandably of course it's a money making machine between the cost of therapy, medications, and depending on the medication weekly to monthly blood draws. There's lots of money to be made off of people diagnosed with ADHD. More than that though, is that it's become sort of a trend. “Few topics have generated as much public concern as the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outpatient visits for ADHD jumped from 1.6 million to 4.2 million per year from 1990 to 1993” (ADHD—Overcoming the Specter of Overdiagnosis. (2002). ADHD has

I think that adhd is being overdiagnosed. Some of the cases that are not adhd can be hard to see because the diagnosis can be hard and some can almost be the same the same. In some cases there has been heart attacks,stroke, and even sudden death. It is being overdiagnosed big time . We need to stop it now so more people don’t die.

These disproportions can occur by geographical region, gender, socioeconomic status, racial or ethnic background and sexual orientation (Ngui, Khasakala, Ndetei, & Roberts, 2010). All populations suffer from an inadequate system, but the prevalence of unmet mental health needs is especially high among children and youths. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (1999, pg. 124), “In the USA, 1 in 5 children suffers from a mental disorder, with 1 in 10 affected by a serious mental or emotional disorder.” However, less than a quarter of these children receive the care they need. Additionally, across the world, individuals living in poverty are at a higher risk of developing mental disorders compared to others. Poverty can be viewed as both a ‘determinant and a consequence of poor mental health’ (Ngui, Khasakala, Ndetei, & Roberts, 2010). Individuals with mental disorders are more prone to living in poverty, in part due to their inability to properly function and/or obtain and sustain employment. On the other hand, living in poverty has been known to increase the likelihood of developing mental

These children have been in an unstable environment, which can affect their ability to fully participate in society. Research shows that children have a high rate of physical development and mental health problems. They often have many mental and medical heath problems that are not helped. Pediatricians can serve to help make sure each child’s conditions and needs are

2012); in other words, they live in households with incomes below the federal poverty line. To know this is important because poverty is considered a critical risk factor for many mental, emotional and behavioral disorders of children and youth (Yoshikawa, et al. 2012). According to Minujin, et al. (2005), “UNICEF defines child poverty as the deprivation of social services. To expand a little more on this, the concept is that children living in poverty are those who are deprived from the material, spiritual and emotional resources needed to survive, develop and thrive, leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, achieve their full potential or participate as full and equal members of society (Minujin, et al. 2005). More importantly many studies have associated poverty with a range of negative outcomes for children in all social, emotional and cognitive areas of development (Yoshikawa, et al. 2012); however, the question that Yoshikawa et al. (2012) in their article is can we certify that poverty “causes” negative outcomes? Their immediate response was skeptic; however, I think that poverty might not be the cause of mental health illnesses but it does influence the development of it and sets children under the radar for treatment and accessing services. Furthermore, the impact of poverty and social disadvantage on children’s health is further evidence that poverty is a serious risk factor for mental illness (Gyamfi, 2004). In his article, Gyamfi (2004)

In this paper, I will be discussing my opinion against the diagnosis of ADHD and the darker side of psychiatric medication through the story of Sean, who is diagnosed with ADHD. In the latter half, I will be analyzing Sean’s situation through various lenses of health ethics and compare my belief with the ideas of Lainie Friedman Ross.

Psychosocial issues such as anxiety and depression can contribute to medical problems, substance abuse, and a life of crime. If psychosocial issues are not treated, they may affect the child health and wellness. It is very important for the child to learn ways to cope with these issues to be able to live a healthy and fulfilled life. Anxiety and depression can cause a child to withdraw from society and have problems trusting people. Children and adolescents with psychosocial problems often lead a destructive lifestyle. These children and adolescents are at risk for becoming alcoholics and committing crimes as teenagers and/or adults (James,

After reading the review, (Is ADHD over-diagnosed among school children?) by C. Collins, I am in agreement with T. E. Elder in that yes, ADHD is over-diagnosed.

Everyone who misbehaves has ADHD. People believe that just because their child is not learning as well as other students, misbehaving, or has a short attention span that they have this disorder. This disorder is more common in children, and is given to children who often have a bad home or bad parenting. In an addiction based culture, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is over prescribed, causing a simple gateway to drugs.

In Bobby's second grade classroom, his teacher threw up her hands and said, "That is it!" On that very morning, Bobby leaped out of his seat seven times to go sharpen his pencil, each time accidentally colliding into other students desks and chairs, sending papers and books plunging to the floor. Bobby screamed out comments to every slightly comical part of the book that the teacher read. His teacher's last straw was when, after repeatedly kicking the desk in front of him, it toppled to the floor, spewing all it's contents to the ground. This is an example of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, most cases in which a doctor is brought in to rule if a child has ADHD are NOT like the

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also known as ADHD is chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, in the United States at least 4.5 million people have been diagnosed with ADHD under the age of eighteen.

The researchers advance the scientific knowledge base by adding to the current knowledge, contributed to the theory, and met the qualifications for a valuable research (Capella, 2016). According to Reising et al., (2016), the study was to address parental depression, social economic status (SES), and community disadvantage for internal and external issues in children and adolescents. Also, taking to account that parental negligence is also a factor that is connected to the internal and external problems in children and adolescents. In addition, concurring to the previous research (Fear, et al., 2009) (Flynn & Rudolph 2011), (Lewis, Collishaw, Thapar, & Gordon, 2014), (McCarthy, Downes, & & Sherman), & (Sondheimer, MD, 2010), all came into