ADHD: The Most Common Behavioral Disorder
This essay intends to give a brief overview of the controversy surrounding the diagnosis of Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I will start looking at the diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder. For the purpose of this essay I will just refer to children even though I am aware of the disorder in
adults.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioural disorder amongst
school aged children. In the Centres for disease and prevention publication (2002), it is estimated that there
are among 1.6253 million children diagnosed with ADHD. With prevalence rates much higher for the US
compared to other European countries. (http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/statistics) The main characteristics
of ADHD are Inattention, Hyperactivity and Impulsivity. For instance:- children will show problems such as
falling to follow instructions to complete a task, always on the go and interrupting conversations etc. Children
with ADHD will experience academic difficulties, social difficulties and difficulties with self-concept.
Professionals’ who diagnose ADHD are to follow the criteria set out in the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric
Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the ICD-10. (International
Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Hyperkinetic disorders) It is worth noting
that the US/Canada use the DSM-IV whereas other European countries tend to use the ICD-10. Both
diagnostics criteria’s are very similar in the way of symptoms, however the ICD-10 rules out co-morbidity and
pervasiveness. With the ICD-10 symptoms have to be present before the age of 7 and children must show
symptoms which are from 3 categories:- Inattention (6 out of 9), Overactivity(3 out of 5) and Impulsivity (1
out of 4). The DSM-IV on the other hand only has two domains as they combined the last two shown in
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I will start looking at the diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder. For the purpose of this essay I will just refer to children even though I am aware of the disorder in
adults.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioural disorder amongst
school aged children. In the Centres for disease and prevention publication (2002), it is estimated that there
are among 1.6253 million children diagnosed with ADHD. With prevalence rates much higher for the US
compared to other European countries. (http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/statistics) The main characteristics
of ADHD are Inattention, Hyperactivity and Impulsivity. For instance:- children will show problems such as
falling to follow instructions to complete a task, always on the go and interrupting conversations etc. Children
with ADHD will experience academic difficulties, social difficulties and difficulties with self-concept.
Professionals’ who diagnose ADHD are to follow the criteria set out in the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric
Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the ICD-10. (International
Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Hyperkinetic disorders) It is worth noting
that the US/Canada use the DSM-IV whereas other European countries tend to use the ICD-10. Both
diagnostics criteria’s are very similar in the way of symptoms, however the ICD-10 rules out co-morbidity and
pervasiveness. With the ICD-10 symptoms have to be present before the age of 7 and children must show
symptoms which are from 3 categories:- Inattention (6 out of 9), Overactivity(3 out of 5) and Impulsivity (1
out of 4). The DSM-IV on the other hand only has two domains as they combined the last two shown in
References: Metcalfe. J. A, Cheng-Lai. A, & Ma. T. (2002) Teachers and Student Teacher Rating of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Three Cultural Settings. International Journal of Disability Development and Education., 166 117-123 Moffitt. T. E, Melchior. M. (2007) Why does the worldwide prevalence of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder matter. Institute of Psychiatry, 164 856-858 Schneider. H, Elisenberg. D. (2006) Who receives a Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the United States Elementary School Population. American Academy of Paediatrics. 1-11 Singh. L. (2005) Will the “Real Boy” Please Behave: Dosing Dilemmas for parents of boys with ADHD. American Journal of Bioethics, 5. 34-47 Skounti. M, Philalithis. A, Galanakis. E, (2007) Variations in prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder worldwide. Eur J Pediatr, 166, 117-123 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/54761/bart_simpson_and_attention_deficit.html?page=4&cat=5With http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/scales