Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis - Term Paper Example

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Introduction Experts have different views on attention deficit disorder also known as Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) regarding diagnosis, medication and dependency in children resulting from use of stimulant. Minors under medication to prevent ADHD have been on the rise for the last 3 decades in the U.S. The diagnosis of ADHD varies, some states shows a high percentage of diagnosis. Production of stimulants such as Ritalin for ADHD treatments is on the rise, with scientists explaining that it is recommended for treatment. According to Schwarz and Cohen, approximately 11% of children are under medication. Authors have pointed out that one boy in every five high school boys have received medical treatment for ADHD. The above mentioned prevalence rates of ADHD among children and increase in medication have raised concerns among physicians that over-diagnosis and overmedication has become common among American children. Prescription of certain stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall for children for improvement of their lives downgraded by the disorder has led to anxiety, addiction and psychosis. Experts think that long term use of stimulants such as Ritalin leads to physical dependence. It is also clear that long term users and abusers of Ritalin leads to the addiction. Schwarz and Cohen show that close to 6.4 million children of age of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD in their lifetime. The reports made in the past two decades show a 41 % increase of ADHD diagnosis. In addition, there is an increase in diagnosis of the disorder by 16% among children since 2007. According to Lavender, North Carolina has the highest number of children diagnosed with ADHD. The prevalence rate has increased for the last decade. The state of North Carolina has the highest rate of ADHD with claims that children of age 4 to 17 were diagnosed with ADHD. The statistics above raised concerns with analyst claiming that the ratio is too high. The study is pushing parent to conduct diagnosis on their children. However, a study conducted in the U.S. shows that 1 in every 5 high school boys have undergone medical diagnosis. Furthermore, 11% of the school children have received a diagnosis of ADHD. The results are based on the National Survey of Children Health between 2011 and 2012. Many physicians, psychiatrist and patients have appreciated the recognition on over-diagnosis of ADHD. However, a few seem to differ with the idea that the over-diagnosis and over-medication of ADHD has recently increased. Their opposition is based on the fact school children are abusing drugs to make it better in school or to remain calm. The behavior is common in schools, teenagers obtain drugs from their classmates and this has increased health risk and more about ADHD (Schwarz and Cohen). The diagnosis of ADHD is only done by talking to parents or teachers. There is no other test that is conducted to ascertain the development of the disorder. The history of the disorder shows that it affects 3% to 7% of children. Epidemiology of the disorder is quite hard because of time constraints and pressure from parents as mentioned above that the disorder can only be diagnosed by interviewing parents and teachers. The doctors opposing the idea that increasing rates of ADHD over-diagnosis claim that medication are given to the wrong people. Further, the increasing prescription of stimulants to children is the cause of increasing over-diagnosis. They assert that right medication should be prescribed to the right people. However, abuse of ADHD stimulants results to over-medication of ADHD (Schwarz and Cohen). Stimulants are widely available in the U.S. as production is highest in the country. Over-medication is driven by the high rate of production of stimulants for the last 3 decades. This is evidenced by the yearly publication by the Drug Enforcement Administration of production and sale stimulants. Analysts claim that the abuse of stimulants has become the norm because of its availability in large quantity due to ever increasing production. Addition, increasing production of stimulants is a proof for over-prescription of medication for ADHD. Further, study reveals that, increasing production is indirectly related to over-diagnosis of the disorder (Connor 16). White et al. (631), point out that the use of Ritalin is on the rise. The use of stimulant is widely accepted in a global society for treatment of children with ADHD. Ritalin is used to stimulate the central nervous system of ADHD affected child. A child becomes calm on taking the drug. However, there have been difficulties associated with the drug use. Users and abusers become addicted to the drug, they develop craving experience on the drug and at an event where it is not available, they panic, this shows that they need to depend on the drug to be stable hence, dependency on stimulants arises. However, Nakamura explains that treatment of ADHD involves both psychological support and pharmacological treatment. Pharmacological treatments are use of stimulants such as Ritalin. The use of Ritalin is quite significant because of the thorough research conducted on the stimulant that has recommended be used in the treatment of ADHD. The author points out that the stimulants are safe and effective for treatment of ADHD. The author disagrees with claims above by White and the other authors that use of stimulants develops dependency in children. However, this study agrees with White and the other authors that the use of stimulants develops dependency in children. It has been noted from the study that production of stimulants in the U.S. is on the rise, this shows that once a child has used stimulants they get addicted to it. Schwarz and Cohen point out in the article that parents are on rush to help their kids with questionable behaviors and poor grades in schools. However, parents make such decisions without conducting tests that can ascertain the consequences of drug use. The authors show the rate of ADHD diagnosis on school-age boys is quite higher than girls. However, as the age progress towards adulthood diagnosis of ADHD increase. Seven percent of the girls and 15% of boys are diagnosed at a young age in the U.S., at the age 14 and 17 diagnoses of girls’ increases to 10% while diagnosis of boys rises to 19%. ADHD diagnosis varies from state to state, state of Colorado and Nevada shows ADHD, diagnosis of less than 10%, while other states such as Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, Arkansas and Tennessee shows that 23% of young boys undergone ADHD diagnosis. Researchers claim that the diagnosis of ADHD has become too wide resulting to needless and harmful treatment for children. Researchers have rooted the cause of over-diagnosis to an extensive classification of ADHD symptoms by DSM that has seen changes since the introduction in 1980s. The subject of ADHD diagnosis by Australian and Netherlands, researchers show that recent over-diagnosis of ADHD is likely to evoke doubts more or less the real epidemiological facts of the disorder. Additionally, research shows that, a frequency change of diagnosis is likely to affect children with chronic ADHD resulting to under treatment. Close to 400000 children are under drug prescribed to improve their performance in school that is affected by poor concentration because of the disorder in the UK. Furthermore, research reveals that stimulant prescription to children and adolescents has doubled in the UK. Other countries have witnessed increase prescription of stimulants despite unclear long term benefits of drugs. Australia and the U.S. have had increasing rates of stimulant prescription (Hope). Conversely, research shows that kids diagnosed with ADHD are under medicated. According to “Washington University School of Medicine”, a large percentage of minors diagnosed with ADHD do not receive relevant treatment to curb the disorder despite the claim that there has been a rise in the percentage of kids taking ADHD medication. A study by “Washington University of Medicine” found that only 45% girls and 58% boys receive medication for ADHD. The study refutes claims conducted between 1975 and 1987 that shows a rise in the percentage of kids from 0.6% to 3% taking medication for ADHD treatment. Additionally, the survey indicates that there was an increase twice further of kids under ADHD medication between 1990 and 1995. The research also noted the increase in production of stimulants in the U.S. such as Ritalin and Concerta. However, the study shows that children with ADHD do not benefit from treatment because they do not have access to ADHD medication. The facts are parents ignore behavioral change they see on their kids and do not provide them with relevant medication. The school authorities and pediatricians fail to identify kids with ADHD that should benefit with treatment. The claims are based on research conducted on 1,610 twins of age between 7 and 17. The number of kids that met ADHD diagnostic criteria was 359. However, because of poor analysis as mentioned above, such kids are under medicated. The study by “Washington University School of Medicine” is quite refutable. The facts presented are outdated; they based their study on statistics collected between 1975 and 1987. They also presented research conducted between 1990 and 1995. Such figures cannot be used to support the argument. However, the facts presented in the study by Schwarz and Cohen support the argument because they presented recent statistics of children over medicated and over diagnosed. Conclusion The diagnosis of ADHD varies from state to state in the U.S, state like North Carolina shows high rate of ADHD diagnosis. Researchers have differing opinions regarding diagnosis of ADHD. Some claim that over-diagnosis leads to over-medication, while others claim that increasing production of stimulants in the U.S. is fueling over-medication. However, researchers have pointed out that the use of stimulants is leading to over-medication because users develop dependency on using the stimulants. But, a study by other physicians shows that stimulants are well researched and recommended for ADHD treatment. Works Cited Connor, F. Daniel. “Problems of Overdiagnosis and Overprescribing in ADHD.” Psychiatric Times, 2011. Vol. 28.8: 14-18. Print. Hope Jenny, “ADHD diagnosis may have become too Broad causing Needless and Harmful Treatment for Children, Warns Study.” Mail Online 6 November 2013. Print. Lavender Chris. “ADHD: Are Children in Schools being Over-diagnosed?” The Times News 6 April 2013. Print Nakamura, K. Richard. “Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders: Are Children Being Overmedicated?” National Institute of Mental Health. 2002. Web. 02 May 2014. Schwarz Alan and Cohen Sarah. “More diagnosis of ADHD causing concerns.” The New York Times 31 March 2013. Print. Washington University School of Medicine. "Almost Half of Kids with ADHD are not being Treated, Study Finds." Science Daily. 6 August 2006. Print. White Lois, Duncan Gena and Baumle Wendy. Foundations of Adult Health Nursing, 2010. New York: Cengage Learning, Print. Read More