ADD and ADHD Behavior - Research Paper Example

? ADD and ADHD Behavior - ADD and ADHD Behavior Introduction Over the past few years, Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder has received outstanding interest from health personnel and pharmaceutical industries around the world. The attention to the syndrome of hyperkinetic disorder was first called in 1955 by Ounsted. (Hermann et al, 2007).The completely unproven and highly questionable diagnosis known as Attention Deficit Disorder forms the basis of administering dangerous stimulant drugs to millions of children around the world each year. The stimulant drugs are known to modify behavior by compromising human health. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a popular sub type of Attention Deficit Disorder and they are nothing more than inventions which are a result of politics and conflicting world economics. The absurdity of the invented disease is reflected by its absurdity of the diagnostic criteria listed in DSM-IV. Moreover, the proof of the nonexistence of ADD and ADHD is provided by the fact that there are absolutely no physiological or organic findings to substantiate the existence of this invented disease. The symptoms of ADD and ADHD are childhood behaviors, ranging from normal to non-complaint, and these symptoms themselves reflect the non existence of the disease. Despite the fact that the validity of ADD and ADHD is spurious, the number of children and young adults being diagnosed with the invented diseases are skyrocketing. Unfortunately, the number of diseased individuals is rising with the passage of each year. Apart from the rising number cases, another depressing aspect of the disease is that a considerably large number of diagnosed children and young adults are treated by administering dangerous stimulant drugs. Undoubtedly, a significant public health threat around the world is the availability of dangerous stimulant drugs. Another depressing aspect is the limited information provided to children and parents about the dangerous side effects of stimulant drugs. Therefore, the absence of meaningful informed consent before commencing the treatment regime is, in my opinion, the cruelest aspect of the invented disease known as Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Unfortunately, the absence of intervention in the use of diagnosis and stimulant drugs, the popular and seductive concept of ADD will continue to flourish which will inevitably continue to throw innocent children and young adults into a deep floundering sea of fear and isolation. (Jacobs, 2004). Popularity of ADD & ADHD A staggering number of children and young adults are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD each year. The increased popularity of the invented disease amongst health professionals has resulted in more and more children receiving dangerous stimulant drugs. The paradoxical effect of stimulants on children has been revealed by strenuous clinical studies conducted by clinicians around the world. Unfortunately, the commencement of treatment strategies involving stimulant drugs has not been wavered by the surfacing of paradoxical effect of these drugs on children and young adults. According to health professionals, ADD and ADHD continues into adulthood and is responsible for criminal behaviors. However, such claims have no reality in my opinion because the disease simply has no organic or physiological findings. There is no proof of the existence of the disease therefore; health personnel are unable to justify their claims that adulthood criminal behavior is a consequence of ADD and ADHD in childhood. (Jacobs, 2004). Dangers of Stimulant Drugs Ritalin (methylphenidate) and dexamphetamine are pharmacologically similar to cocaine and are two of the most popular drugs for administration in ADHD. The drugs have significant effects which are similar to the ones mediated by cocaine. The chief effects of stimulant drugs used in the treatment of ADHD and ADD are that they cause the patients undergoing therapy to become docile and more compliant. Recent studies and surveys have revealed that diagnosed children receiving stimulant therapy showed exactly the same results which normal children did upon receiving the treatment. Surfacing of such facts makes it clear that a positive response to stimulant medication cannot be used to determine and emphasize the importance of diagnosis of ADD and ADHD. Nonetheless, parents and teachers are tremendously pleased by the fact that their children respond positive to medication by becoming docile and more compliant. Sadly, what parents don’t realize is that their children are paying the ultimate cost. Ritalin is an amphetamine and amphetamines have been known to cause sudden cardiac deaths. Certain children taking amphetamines have paid the ultimate price and died of sudden cardiac arrest. On the other hand, death from long term use of dexamphetamine is not uncommon. Stimulant drugs cause insomnia and loss of appetite. Another dangerous effect of stimulant drugs if depression. The onset of depression in individuals receiving stimulant drug therapy may lead to suicide. The use of stimulant drugs in young children not only causes mental complications but also mediate a detrimental effect on the process of growth and development. The grossly harmful effects of amphetamines and other stimulant drugs are mediated in numerous ways on the developing human brain. Stimulants drugs, amphetamines in particular, reduce the overall blood flow to the brain, and disturb glucose metabolism in the human brain. Such effects have been linked to causing permanent shrinkage or atrophy of the brain. Despite specific warnings for use in young children, such medications are routinely prescribed across the world for the treatment of children diagnosed with ADD & ADHD. (Jacobs, 2004). Reasons for the popularity of ADHD Diagnosis Over the past 25 years, the number of children diagnosed with ADHD and ADD has shown a staggering increase. Many critics and researchers question the rising popularity of ADHD because it an acknowledged fact that there is no known etiology or a biological marker for ADHD and ADD so why are the number of diagnoses escalating with the passage of each year. (Babinski et al, 1999). The most perfect answer for questions regarding the popularity of ADD is provided by the economical benefits gained by the two primary “constituencies” by diagnosing ADD. The two primary constituencies are: the drug companies, and physicians. Each year in the United States of America alone, the market for stimulant drugs specifically used in the treatment for ADD and ADHD exceeds US$600 million. Such sort of a profit motive can easily be a driving force mediated by pharmaceutical industries in promoting their outspoken proponent behavior of ADD diagnosis. Huge pharmaceutical companies like Novartis have developed extensive advertisement strategies to target parents in an effort to convince them in choosing stimulant medication treatment for their children. Moreover, Novartis is a major proponent and financial supporter of the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. Pharmaceutical industries manufacturing stimulant medication utilize enormous amounts of money in advertisements and programs in order to increase the sales and profit gained from stimulant medication. The desire to help their patients is the foremost reason why physicians are seduced by the concept of ADD and ADHD as a biomedical entity. Therefore, profit motive of the pharmaceutical industries coupled with the physician’s desire to be helpful are the foremost reasons for the popularity of ADD and ADHD diagnosis in modern society. (Jacobs, 2004). ADD & ADHD in Inmates A research conducted on adult inmates found that 48% of the individuals met the DSM-V criteria for ADHD and ADD. (Hanlon et al, 2010). Another research conducted on a sample of 100 adult maximum security inmates showed moderate prevalence of the phantom disease ADHD. The research revealed that approximately 41% of the sample inmates showed the symptoms of ADD and met the criteria listed in DSM-IV. (Vitelli, 1996). The physician is able to diagnose a patient with ADD if the patient has been presenting at least six or more of the symptoms listed in the DSM-IV over the past six months. The DSM-IV criterion for the diagnosis of ADD and ADHD is as follows: i. The child makes silly, careless mistakes in schoolwork or household chores and often seems to be totally incapable of paying close attention to details ii. The individual experiences problem in maintaining attention and concentration in assigned tasks and playing activities iii. The child often does not respond and seems not to listen when directly spoken to iv. The individual fails to finish schoolwork and finds it quite difficult to adhere and follow instructions. The child also does not perform well in household chores and other activities. v. The child faces problems when entrusted with tasks and activities involving organizing materials vi. The child avoids, hesitates, or dislikes or participate in tasks and activities involving sustained mental efforts vii. The child repeatedly losses things such as toys, school assignments, pencils, books, and other things necessary for activities and tasks involving sustained mental effort viii. The child is easily distracted and disturbed by extraneous stimuli ix. Lastly, the child is forgetful in daily activities and tasks. (Marlow, 2011). Nothing but a Phantom Disease In my opinion, the DSM-IV criteria for ADD and ADHD do not sound convincing at all. The criteria have labeled childhood behavioral variants as symptoms of a phantom disease. In my opinion there is no existence of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The invented disease has been receiving outstanding attention since attention was first called towards it in 1955. Through out the existence of mankind, parents have always been concerned over their child’s inappropriate behavior. It is not uncommon for parents to lose sleep agonizing over concerns pertaining to misbehavior or lack of performance in school. Such concerns have led to the invention of the disease known as ADD. The invention of the disease has provided tremendously fruitful results for both the pharmaceutical industries and physicians. The disease has increased the market for stimulant diseases like Ritalin which has satisfied the profit motives of industrialists around the world. Pharmaceutical industries along with physicians are targeting parents through a dual mechanism. Firstly, the industries are advertising extensively about the positive effects of stimulants diseases on the performance and behavior of a child. Secondly, a new trend of financially supporting programs and research pertaining to the transition of childhood ADD into adulthood ADD has evolved over the past few years. Health personnel claim that if ADD is not assessed and successfully treated in childhood then it is carried into adulthood and may lead to criminal behavior. The convincing advertisements and ADD associated criminal behavioral risk has resulted in more and more parents being convinced that stimulant therapy is the only choice. Unfortunately what we fail to understand is the fact that all children pass through the phase of disobeying and challenging their parents and administering stimulant therapy is not the answer because ultimately the children have to pay the price. It is undisputed medical fact that stimulant medication compromises the health of the individual to modify their behavior. Parents need to realize the truth that the answer to dealing with behavioral issues does not certainly lies in stimulant medication therapy. In my opinion, the ADD has no existence thus; inevitably it is a contributing factor in the development of adulthood criminal behavioral characteristics. Conclusion ADD and ADHD are invented diseases which are satisfying the profit motives of pharmaceutical industries and physicians. The common symptoms of the invented disease include lack of concentration, being unable to sit still, and behavioral problems at school. Despite the fact that there is no known etiology or biological/organic marker of the disease, the diagnosis of ADD continues to escalate alarmingly. The number of children diagnosed with the disorder is increasing with the passage of each year. Moreover, a significant portion of the diagnosed children are receiving stimulation medication therapy. Sadly, children are paying the ultimate price and reports of children dying from stimulant therapy are not uncommon. The symptoms of the disease are nothing but variants of normal childhood behavior and it is unfair to label them as an invented disease. References: Jacobs, B. (2004). ADD & ADHD Epidemic of a Phantom Disease. Nexus Megazine, Australia. http://www.alternativemedicinenis.com.au/ADD%20%26%20ADHD%20Epidemic%20of%20a%20Phantom%20Disease.pdf Hermann, B., Jones, J., Dabbs, K., Allen, C. A., Sheth, R., Fine, J., McMillan, A., ... Seidenberg, M. (January 01, 2007). The frequency, complications and aetiology of ADHD in new onset paediatric epilepsy. Brain : a Journal of Neurology, 130, 3135-48. http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/130/12/3135.full.pdf+html Hanlon, R. E., Rubin, L. H., Jensen, M., & Daoust, S. (January 01, 2010). Neuropsychological features of indigent murder defendants and death row inmates in relation to homicidal aspects of their crimes. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology : the Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists, 25, 1, 1-13. Vitelli, R. (January 01, 1996). Prevalence of Childhood Conduct and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders in Adult Maximum-Security Inmates. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 40, 4, 263-271. Marlow, H. (2001). ADD/ADHD: A guide for teachers & parents. Graham, Tex: Four Seasons Books, Inc. Babinski, L. M., Hartsough, C. S., & Lambert, N. M. (March 01, 1999). Childhood Conduct Problems, Hyperactivity-impulsivity, and Inattention as Predictors of Adult Criminal Activity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 3, 347-355. Read More