Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
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Classification and external resources
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder[1][2][3]affecting about 3-5% of the world's population.[4] It typically presents itself during childhood, and is characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness and inattention, with or without a component of hyperactivity.[5] ADHD occurs twice as commonly in boys as in girls.[6] ADHD is generally a chronic[7] disorder with 10 to 60% of individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to meet diagnostic criteria in adulthood.[8][9] As they mature, adolescents and adults with ADHD are likely to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for their impairment.[10]
Though previously regarded as a childhood diagnosis, studies completed during the last few decades have shown that ADHD often continues throughout adulthood - though generally with a reduction in hyperactivity. ADHD has a strong genetic component.[11] Methods of treatment usually involve some combination of medications, behavior modifications, life style changes, and counseling. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that stimulant medications and/or behavior therapy are appropriate and generally safe treatments for ADHD.[12] Long term safety of stimulants however has not been determined.[8]
ADHD is one of the most controversial psychiatric disorders.[13][14][15] The controversy involving clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents, and the media with opinions regarding ADHD ranging from those who do not believe it exists to those who believe that there is genetic and physiological basis for the condition.[16]
Contents
[edit] Classification
ADHD has been classified as a developmental disorder, a behavior disorder and a neurological disorder. ADHD is a developmental disorder where certain traits such as impulse control lag in development when compared to the general population[17]. Using magnetic resonance imaging, this developmental lag has been estimated to range from 3 to 5 years in the prefrontal cortex.[18]. These delays are considered to cause impairment. ADHD has also been classified as a behavior disorder and a neurological disorder. [1]
[edit] Symptoms
The most common symptoms of ADHD are[19][20]:
The DSM IV categorises the symptoms of ADHD into two clusters: inattention symptoms and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Most ordinary people exhibit some of these behaviors but not to the point where they significantly interfere with the person's work, relationships, or studies or cause anxiety or depression.
Hyperactivity is common among children with ADHD but tends to disappear during adulthood. However, over half of children with ADHD continue to have some symptoms of inattention throughout their lives.
Inattention and "hyperactive" behavior are not the only problems with children with ADHD. ADHD exists alone in only about 1/3 of the children diagnosed with it. Many of these co-existing conditions require other courses of treatment and should be diagnosed separately instead of being grouped in the ADHD diagnosis. Some of the associated conditions are:
Although the reasons are not clear, it has long been observed (and is not controversial) that many children seem to "outgrow" ADHD. These individuals include those with and without various combinations of medication and/or therapy, although both have proven generally effective and safe in easing symptoms and reducing impairment. It is also known that many adolescents and adults develop coping skills as they mature to offset impairments. An individual's development of helpful coping skills may be enhanced by therapy, but also may result with or without conscious effort of the individual.
[edit] Causes
ADHD is generally inherited, but it can also be caused by various problems, including difficulties with pregnancy, birth, early childhood severe illness, and environmental toxins.[21]
[edit] Genetic factors
Twin studies indicate that the disorder is highly heritable and that genetics cause about 75% of ADHD cases.[17] Hyperactivity also seems to be primarily a genetic condition however other causes do have an effect.[22]
Researchers believe that a large majority of ADHD arises from a combination of various genes, many of which affect dopamine transporters. Candidate genes include dopamine transporter, dopamine receptor D4, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase A, catecholamine-methyl transferase, serotonin transporter promoter (SLC6A4), 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2A), 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B receptor (5-HT1B),[23] the 10-repeat allele of the DAT1 gene,[24] the 7-repeat allele of the DRD4 gene,[24] and the dopamine beta hydroxylase gene (DBH TaqI).[25]
The broad selection of targets indicates that ADHD does not follow the traditional model of a "genetic disease" and should be viewed as a complex interaction among genetic and environmental factors. Even though all these genes might play a role to date no single gene has been shown to make a major contribution to ADHD.[26]
[edit] Environmental factors
Twin studies to date have suggested that approximately 9-20 percent of the variance in hyperactive-impulsive-inattentive behavior or ADHD symptoms can be attributed to such nonshared environmental (nongenetic) factors.[27]
Environmental factors implicated include alcohol and tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy and lead exposure after birth.[28] Smoking relation to ADHD could be due nicotine causing hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in utero, however it could also be that women with ADHD are more likely to smoke and therefore due to the strong genetic component of ADHD more likely to have children with ADHD.[citation needed] Complications during pregnancy and birth—including premature birth—might also play a role.[citation needed]
Current evidence does not support an association between head injuries and ADHD. [29]
[edit] Diet
A systematic review found that removing artificial food coloring from the diet improved ADHD symptoms.[30] Evidence however shows that sucrose (sugar) has no effect on behavior.[31][32]
Preliminary evidence suggests that Omega-3/Omega-6 supplementation reduces ADHD symptoms.[33][34]
[edit] Social factors
There is no compelling evidence that social factors alone can cause ADHD.[17] Many researchers believe that relationships with caregivers have a profound effect on attentional and self-regulatory abilities. A study of foster children found that a high number of them had symptoms closely resembling ADHD.[35] Well other researchers have found behavior typical of ADHD in children who have suffered violence and emotional abuse.[36] Furthermore, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can result in attention problems that can look like ADHD, as can Sensory Integration Disorders.
[edit] Neurobiological mechanisms
The pathophysiology of ADHD is unclear and there are a number of competing theories.[40]
In one study a delay in development of certain brain structures by an average of three years occurred in ADHD elementary school aged patients. The delay was most prominent in the frontal cortex and temporal lobe, which are believed to be responsible for the ability to control and focus thinking. In contrast, the motor cortex in the ADHD patients was seen to mature faster than normal, suggesting that both slower development of behavioral control and advanced motor development might be required for the fidgetiness that characterize an ADHD diagnosis.[41]
The same laboratory had previously found involvement of the "7-repeat" variant of the dopamine D4 receptor gene, which accounts for about 30 percent of the genetic risk for ADHD, in unusual thinness of the cortex of the right side of the brain; however, in contrast to other variants of the gene found in ADHD patients, the region normalized in thickness during the teen years in these children, coinciding with clinical improvement.[42]
Additionally, SPECT scans found people with ADHD to have reduced blood circulation (indicating low neural activity),[43] and a significantly higher concentration of dopamine transporters in the striatum which is in charge of planning ahead. [44][45] Medications focused on treating ADHD (such as methylphenidate) work by reducing dopamine reuptake in certain areas of the brain, such as those that control and regulate concentration. As dopamine is a stimulant, this increases neural activity and thus blood flow in these areas (blood flow is a marker for neural activity). A study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in collaboration with Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York suggest that it is not the dopamine transporter levels that indicate ADHD, but the brain's ability to produce dopamine itself. The study was done by injecting 20 ADHD subjects and 25 control subjects with a radiotracer that attaches itself to dopamine transporters. The study found that it was not the transporter levels that indicated ADHD, but the dopamine itself. ADHD subjects showed lower levels of dopamine across the board. They speculated that since ADHD subjects had lower levels of dopamine to begin with, the number of transporters in the brain was not the telling factor. In support of this notion, plasma homovanillic acid, an index of dopamine levels, was found to be inversely related not only to childhood ADHD symptoms in adult psychiatric patients, but to "childhood learning problems" in healthy subjects as well.[46]
Although there is evidence for dopamine abnormalities in ADHD, it is not clear whether abnormalities of the dopamine system are the molecular abnormality of ADHD or a secondary consequence of a problem elsewhere. Researchers have described a form of ADHD in which the abnormality appears to be sensory overstimulation resulting from a disorder of ion channels in the peripheral nervous system.
An early PET scan study found that global cerebral glucose metabolism was 8% lower in medication-naive adults who had been diagnosed as ADHD while children. The image on the left illustrates glucose metabolism in the brain of a 'normal' adult while doing an assigned auditory attention task; the image on the right illustrates the areas of activity in the brain of an adult who had been diagnosed with ADHD as a child when given that same task. The regions with the greatest deficit of activity included the premotor cortex and the superior prefrontal cortex.[47] The significance of the research by Dr. Alan Zametkin that produced these images is still not definative.[48][49][50]
[edit] Diagnosis
No objective test exists to make a diagnosis of ADHD. It thus remains a clinical diagnosis.[51]
In North American the DSM-IV criteria are often the basis for a diagnosis well European countries usually use the ICD-10.[52]
Many of the symptoms of ADHD occur from time to time in everyone; in patients with ADHD, the frequency of these symptoms is greater and significantly impairs their life. This impairment must occur in multiple settings to be classified as ADHD. As with many other psychiatric and medical disorders, the formal diagnosis is made by a qualified professional in the field based on a set number of criteria. In the USA these criteria are laid down by the American Psychiatric Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), 4th edition. Based on the DSM-IV criteria listed below, three types of ADHD are classified:
The terminology of ADD expired with the revision of the most current version of the DSM. Consequently, ADHD is the current nomenclature used to describe the disorder as one distinct disorder which can manifest itself as being a primary deficit resulting in hyperactivity/impulsivity (ADHD, predominately hyperactive-impulsive type) or inattention (ADHD predominately inattentive type) or both (ADHD combined type).
[edit] DSM-IV criteria
I. Either A or B:
- A. Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:
-
Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions). Often has trouble organizing activities. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework). Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools). Is often easily distracted. Often forgetful in daily activities.
- B. Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:
-
Hyperactivity:Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat. Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected. Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless). Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly. Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor". Often talks excessively.
-
Impulsiveness:Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished. Often has trouble waiting one's turn. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).
II. Some symptoms that cause impairment were present before age 7 years.
III. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school/work and at home).
IV. There must be clear evidence of significant impairment in social, school, or work functioning.
V. The symptoms do not happen only during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder).
[edit] Other diagnostic criteria
In the tenth edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) the symptoms of ADHD are given the name "Hyperkinetic disorders". When a conduct disorder (as defined by ICD-10[53]) is present, the condition is referred to as "Hyperkinetic conduct disorder". Otherwise the disorder is classified as "Disturbance of Activity and Attention", "Other Hyperkinetic Disorders" or "Hyperkinetic Disorders, Unspecified". The latter is sometimes referred to as, "Hyperkinetic Syndrome".[53]
The American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline for children with ADHD emphasizes that a reliable diagnosis is dependent upon the fulfillment of three criteria:[54]
All five criteria are proven using specifically designed test or using the patients history given by the parents, teachers or the patient's memory.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that a diagnosis of ADD should only be made by trained health care providers, as many of the symptoms may also be part of other conditions, such as bodily illness or other physiological disorders, such as hypothyroidism. It is not uncommon that physically and mentally nonpathological individuals exhibit at least some of the symptoms from time to time. Severity and pervasiveness of the symptoms leading to prominent functional impairment across different settings (school, work, social relationships) are major factors in a positive diagnosis.
Adults often continue to be impaired by ADD. Adults with ADD are diagnosed under the same criteria, including the stipulation that their symptoms must have been present prior to the age of seven.[55] Adults face some of their greatest challenges in the areas of self-control and self-motivation, as well as executive functioning, usually having more symptoms of inattention and fewer of hyperactivity or impulsiveness than children do.[56]
Common comorbid conditions are Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). About 20% to 25% of children with ADD meet criteria for a learning disorder.[57] Learning disorders are more common when there are inattention symptoms.[58]
[edit] Management
Methods of treatment often involve some combination of medications, behavior modifications, life style changes, and counseling.
[edit] Behavioral interventions
Family therapy has shown little benefit in the treatment of ADHD.[59] Education to help parents understand ADHD have shown short term benefits.[60]
[edit] Pharmacological treatment
Stimulant medications are the most clinically and cost effective method of treating ADHD. [60][61] No significant differences between the various drugs in terms of efficacy or side effects has been found.[62][63] About 70% of children improve after being treated with stimulants.[64]
Stimulants, in the short term, have been found to be safe in the appropriately selected patient and appear well tolerated over 5 years of treatment,[65] however long term safety has not been determined. There are no randomized controlled trials assessing the harms or benefits of treatment beyond two years.[8] The American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics feels that it is prudent to carefully assess children for heart conditions before treating them with stimulant medications.[66] The FDA has added black box warning to some ADHD medications.[67]Amphetamines ( Adderall ) has warnings about potential for abuse, drug dependence, and sudden death.[68]
Comorbid disorders or substance abuse can make the diagnosis and the treatment of ADHD more difficult. Psychosocial therapy is useful in treating some comorbid conditions.[69]
[edit] Prognosis
ADHD diagnosed in childhood resolves in 40 to 90% of individuals by the time they reach adulthood.[8][70] Those affected are likely to develop coping mechanisms as they mature thus compensating for their previous ADHD. [71]
37% of those with ADHD do not get a high school diploma even though many of them will receive special education services.[17] The combined outcomes of the expulsion and dropout rates indicate that almost half of all ADHD students never finish high school.[72] In the United States, less than 5% of individuals with ADHD get a college degree[73] compared to 28% of the general population.[74]
[edit] Epidemiology
ADHD's global prevalence is estimated at 5% in people under the age of 19. There is however wide variability in theses estimates with children in North America appearing to have a higher rate of ADHD than children in Africa and the Middle East.[4] 10% of males and 4% of females have been diagnosed in the United States[75] This difference between genders may reflect either a difference in susceptibility or that females with ADHD are less likely to be diagnosed than males.[76][77]
[edit] History
The clinical definition of "ADHD" dates to the mid-20th century, when physicians developed a diagnosis for a set of conditions variously referred to as "minimal brain damage", "minimal brain dysfunction", "learning/behavioural disabilities" and "hyperactivity". Researchers speculate that earlier references to the condition as mentioned in the examples below, have been made throughout history.[citation needed]
In 493 BCE, physician-scientist Hippocrates described a condition that seems to be compatible with what we now know as ADHD.[citation needed] He described patients who had "quickened responses to sensory experience, but also less tenaciousness because the soul moves on quickly to the next impression". Hippocrates attributed this condition to an "overbalance of fire over waterâ€. His remedy for this "overbalance" was "barley rather than wheat bread, fish rather than meat, water drinks, and many natural and diverse physical activities."[78] Russell Barkley [79] has argued that Shakespeare made reference to a "malady of attention" in King Henry VII, although the actual quote appears to come from King Henry IV, part II.
In 1902, the English pediatrician George Still gave a series of lectures to the Royal College of Physicians in England and described a condition which some have claimed is analogous to ADHD.[citation needed] Still described a group of children with significant behavioral problems, caused, he believed, by an innate hereditary dysfunction and not by poor child rearing or environment.[80]
In 1937, Dr. Charles Bradley in Providence, RI reported that a group of children with behavioral problems improved after being treated with the stimulant Benzedrine.[81] In 1957, the stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin, which was first produced in 1950) became available under various names (including Focalin, Concerta, Metadate, and Methylin); it remains one of the most widely prescribed medications for ADHD. Initially the drug was used to treat narcolepsy, chronic fatigue, depression, and to counter the sedating effects of other medications. The drug began to be used for ADHD in the 1960s and steadily rose in use.[citation needed]
Psychiatry officially codified a condition called “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood†in 1968, displaying the psychoanalytical influences of that time. The name Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was first introduced in DSM-III, the 1980 edition. By 1987 – The DSM-IIIR was released changing the diagnosis to "Undifferentiated Attention Deficit Disorder." Further revisions to the DSM were made in 1994 – DSM-IV described three groupings within ADHD, which can be simplified as: mainly inattentive; mainly hyperactive-impulsive; and both in combination.[citation needed]
In the 1970s researchers began to realize that the condition now known as ADHD did not always disappear in adolescence, as was once thought. At about the same time, some of the symptoms were also noted in many parents of the children under treatment. The condition was formally recognized as afflicting adults in 1978, often informally called Adult ADD, since symptoms associated with hyperactivity are generally less pronounced. Current research indicates that up to 60% of children with ADHD carry their symptoms into adulthood. [82]
In 1975, pemoline (Cylert) was approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of ADHD. While an effective agent for managing the symptoms, the development of liver failure in 14 cases over the next 27 years would result in the manufacturer withdrawing this medication from the market. New delivery systems for medications were invented in 1999 that eliminated the need for multiple doses across the day or taking medication at school. These new systems include pellets of medication coated with various time-release substances to permit medications to dissolve hourly across an 8–12 hour period (Metadate CD, Adderall XR, Focalin XR) and an osmotic pump that extrudes a liquid methylphenidate sludge across an 8–12 hour period after ingestion (Concerta).[citation needed]
It has also been suggested that the disparities in diagnosis levels per capita between countries are affected by differences in knowledge and understanding of the condition. For example, more widespread knowledge and greater acceptance of the condition amongst both doctors and teaching professionals within a region will increase the likelihood of identification and subsequent diagnosis of the condition.[citation needed]
During 1996, ADHD accounted for at least 40% of child psychiatry references.[83]
In 2003, atomoxetine (Strattera) received the first FDA approval for a nonstimulant drug to be used specifically for ADHD. In 2007, lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) becomes the first prodrug to receive FDA approval for ADHD. The landmark study of 1999 – The largest study of treatment for ADHD in history – is published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Known as the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA Study), it involved more than 570 children with ADHD at 6 sites in the United States and Canada randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups. Results generally showed that medication alone was more effective than psychosocial treatments alone, but that their combination was beneficial for some subsets of ADHD children beyond the improvement achieved only by medication. More than 40 studies have subsequently been published from this massive dataset.[citation needed]
[edit] Cultural aspects
People talk about ADHD in 5 different ways:
Another study looked at Colombian and Castillejos, Zambales schoolchildren to examine whether ADHD is merely a cultural phenomenon, or a cultural phenomenon with a biological basis. The authors conclude: “If ADHD were explicable as a culturally formulated psychiatric phenomenon, then it would be predicted that the same hyperactive and inattentive behaviors displayed in different cultural contexts would be associated with differing degrees of harmful dysfunction. In this study we found that children's hyperactive and inattentive behavior were similarly expressed in diverse populations and systematically related to children's social and academic wellbeing across those varied cultural contexts.†[85] This study was later criticized for assuming a homogenous culture for the United States population, failing to mention the socioeconomic backgrounds of the populations, and using two study populations that share European cultural origins.[86]
[edit] Concerns and alternative theories
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) "is a highly controversial pediatric disorder despite being a well validated clinical diagnosis".[87][88] The controversy involving clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents, and the media with opinions regarding ADHD ranging from those who do not believe it exists to those who believe that there is genetic and physiological basis for the condition.[89]
Researchers from McMaster identified six features of ADHD that contribute to its controversial nature: 1) it is a clinical diagnosis for which there are no laboratory or radiological confirmatory tests or specific physical features; 2) diagnostic criteria have changed frequently; 3) there is no curative treatment, so long-term therapies are required; 4) therapy often includes stimulant drugs that are thought to have abuse potential; and 5) the rates of diagnosis and of treatment substantially differ across countries.[90]
The British Psychological Society states that: “The idea that children who don’t attend or who don’t sit still in school have a mental disorder is not entertained by most British clinicians.â€[91]
In the Harvard Review of Psychiatry, three authors from Departments of Political Science and Psychology at the University of California campuses in Richmond and Berkeley stated "ADHD is one of the most controversial psychiatric disorders, in part because it is also the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder among minors."[92] There is concern about the effects of an ADHD diagnosis on the mental state and self-esteem of patients.[93][94] There is disagreement over the cause of ADHD and there are questions about research methodologies [95], and skepticism toward its classification as a mental disorder. [93] Social critics point to changing standards of diagnosis[citation needed], such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issuing a more careful set of standards in 2000 to aid clinicians than merely using DSM-IV.[96]
Concern exists that "elevated but still developmentally normal levels of motor activity, impulsiveness, or inattention" traits of childhood could be inappropriately interpreted as ADHD.[97] The National Institute of Mental Health states that, "stimulant drugs, when used with medical supervision, are usually considered quite safe."[98] Some parents and professionals have raised questions about the side effects of drugs and their long term use.[99] Calls for greater scrutiny are made by some news sources, social critics, religions, and medical professionals. Ethical and legal issues with regard to treatment have been key areas of concern for these critics. "Alternative theory" critics contend that the symptoms of ADHD can be better explained by the Hunter vs. farmer theory or Neurodiversity. Fringe critics question if ADHD exists at all as a disorder social construct theory of ADHD. Fringe critics question if ADHD exists at all as a disorder.
[edit] Anti-psychiatry movement
Members of the Anti-Psychiatry movement such as Fred Baughman and Peter Breggin[100][101][102][103] have extensively used the popular media to criticize ADHD and medications used for ADHD. Fred Baughman has also published articles about ADHD in peer reviewed journals.[104] They have testified at Congressional hearings on the use of Ritalin and supported legal challenges such as the Ritalin class action lawsuits. There is an antipsychiatry movement that often refers to their writings, but in contrast to scientolgists, they are not "anti-psychiatry," but critics of some of its practices.
[edit] Scientology
According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, "the uproar over Ritalin was triggered almost single-handedly by the Scientology movement."[105] The Citizens Commission on Human Rights, an anti-psychiatry group formed by Scientologists in 1969, conducted a major campaign against Ritalin in the 1980s and lobbied Congress for an investigation of Ritalin.[105]Scientology publications identified the "real target of the campaign" as "the psychiatric profession itself" and said that the campaign "brought wide acceptance of the fact that (the commission) [sic] and the Scientologists are the ones effectively doing something about [...] psychiatric drugging".[105] Scientology states "the controversy over the many deaths and irreversible damage caused by psychiatric drugs prescribed for children labeled with... ADHD continues to grow".[106] The church states that mental disorders are a fraud,[107] "mental and behavioral problems are largely incorrect diagnoses that cover symptoms and don't handle the real problems, which may be physical or spiritual".[108]
[edit] Concerns about the impact of labeling
Parents could be concerned that telling children they have a brain disorder could possibly harm their self-esteem. Dr. Russell Barkley believes labeling is a double-edged sword; there are many pitfalls to labeling but that by using a precise label, services can be accessed. He also believes that labeling can help the individual understand and make an informed decision how best to deal with the disorder using evidence based knowledge.[109] Furthermore studies also show that the education of the siblings and parents has at least a short term impact on the outcome of treatment. [60] Dr. Russell Barkley states this about ADHD rights: "..because of various legislation that has been passed to protect them. There are special education laws with the Americans with Disabilities Act, for example, mentioning ADHD as an eligible condition. If you change the label, and again refer to it as just some variation in normal temperament, these people will lose access to these services, and will lose these hard-won protections that keep them from being discriminated against. . . ."[109] Psychiatrist Harvey Parker, who founded CHAAD, states, "we should be celebrating the fact that school districts across the country are beginning to understand and recognize kids with ADHD, and are finding ways of treating them. We should celebrate the fact that the general public doesn't look at ADHD kids as "b-a-d" kids, as brats, but as kids who have a problem that they can overcome".[110]
Social critics believe that this knowledge can effectively become a self-fulfilling prophecy mainly through self-doubt. Dr. Thomas Armstrong states that the ADHD label is a "tragic decoy" which severely erodes the potential to see the best in a child [111]. Armstrong is a proponent of the idea that there are many types of "smarts" and has adopted the term neurodiversity (first used by autistic rights activists) as an alternative, less damaging, label [112]. Thom Hartmann has said that the brain disorder label is "a pretty wretched label for any child to have to bear."[113]
[edit] Media coverage of ADHD
The media has reported on many issues related to ADHD and has also reported on controversial opinions of individuals.
In 2001 PBS's Frontline ran a five-part TV series entitled "Medicating kids".[114] The program included a selection of interviews with representatives of various points of view. In one segment, entitled backlash, retired neurologist Fred Baughman and Peter Breggin, founder of the 'International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology', who PBS described as "outspoken critics who insist [ADHD is] a fraud perpetrated by the psychiatric and pharmaceutical industries on families anxious to understand their children's behavior,"[115] were interviewed on the legitimacy of the disorder. Russell Barkley and Xavier Castellanos, then head of ADHD research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), defended the viability of the disorder. In Castellanos's interview he stated how little is scientifically understood.[116] Lawrence Diller was interviewed on the business of ADHD along with a representative from Shire Plc.
A number of notable individuals have given controversial opinions on ADHD. Scientologist Tom Cruise's interview with Matt Lauer was widely watched by the public. In this interview he spoke about postpartum depression and also referred to Ritalin and Adderall as being "street drugs" rather than as ADHD medication.[citation needed] In England Baroness Susan Greenfield, a leading neuroscientist,[117] wanted a wide-ranging inquiry in the House of Lords into the dramatic increase in the diagnosis of ADHD in the UK and possible causes[118] following a 2007 BBC Panorama programme which highlighted US research (The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD by the University of Buffalo showing treatment results of 600) suggesting drugs are no better than therapy for ADHD in the long-term. Other notable individuals have made controversial statements about ADHD. Terence Kealey, a clinical biochemist, has stated his belief that ADHD medication is used to control unruly boys behaviour.[119] Newspaper columnists such as Benedict Carey have also written controversial articles on ADHD.[120][121]
[edit] Hunter vs. farmer theory of ADHD
The hunter vs. farmer theory is a hypothesis proposed by Thom Hartmann, a radio host, about the origins of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He believes that these conditions may be a result of adaptive behavior of the species. His theory believes that those with ADHD retained some of the older hunter characteristics.[citation needed]
[edit] Neurodiversity
Proponents of this theory assert that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological development is a normal human difference that is to be tolerated and respected as any other human difference. Social critics argue that while biological factors may obviously play a large role in difficulties sitting still and/or concentrating on schoolwork in some children, for a variety of reasons they have failed to integrate into the social expectations that others have of them. [122]
[edit] Social construct theory of ADHD
Social critics question whether ADHD is wholly or even predominantly a biological illness. A minority of these critics maintain that ADHD was, "invented and not discovered". They believe that no disorder exists and that the behaviour observed is not abnormal and can be better explained by environmental causes or just the personality of the "patient."[citation needed]
[edit] See also
General
Related disorders
Controversy