Biomedical Model Of ADHD Analysis
Introduction
The essay will critically analyse two contrasting theories/approaches to the diagnosis of Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The two approaches are the Biomedical Model that posits that ADHD is a mental disorder that has a biological basis un its aetiology and the Social Construct Theory which indicates that ADHD is not a real disorder but a socially constructed explanation for behaviours that are outside social norms.
Biomedical model of ADHD
The causes of ADHD are unknown but the biomedical model of ADHD posits that ADHD results from an interaction of a network of biological, psychological and social factors, with a strong genetic predisposition that may be differentially expressed (Faraone et al, 2015). In …show more content…
Brady (2004) asserts that ADHD is a social construct because the meaning of the concept arises from the interaction between individuals and social structures. According to this constructionist approach, people who are mentally ill are so judged by social and cultural regulations which define what is normal and abnormal behaviour, rather than by what they do. As such, in cultures docility and order are virtuous traits, children on the active end of the active-passive spectrum may be viewed as problematic. Therefore, according to this theory, defining their behaviour by giving labels such as ADHD removes the blame from people or societal factors 'causing this problem'. Constructionists highlight the lack of biological basis of ADHD as a critical flaw in the classification of ADHD as a real disorder (McCubbin and Cohen, 1999) (Baldwin, …show more content…
The NICE guidelines indicate that for a diagnosis of ADHD, symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and/or inattention should meet the diagnostic criteria outlined in DSM-IV or ICD-10 (hyperkinetic disorder), and be linked with at least a moderate psychological, social and/or educational or impairment based on interview and/or direct observation in multiple settings, and be pervasive, occurring in two or more important everyday settings (NICE, 2016). This diagnosis can only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or a healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD (NICE,
The essay will critically analyse two contrasting theories/approaches to the diagnosis of Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The two approaches are the Biomedical Model that posits that ADHD is a mental disorder that has a biological basis un its aetiology and the Social Construct Theory which indicates that ADHD is not a real disorder but a socially constructed explanation for behaviours that are outside social norms.
Biomedical model of ADHD
The causes of ADHD are unknown but the biomedical model of ADHD posits that ADHD results from an interaction of a network of biological, psychological and social factors, with a strong genetic predisposition that may be differentially expressed (Faraone et al, 2015). In …show more content…
Brady (2004) asserts that ADHD is a social construct because the meaning of the concept arises from the interaction between individuals and social structures. According to this constructionist approach, people who are mentally ill are so judged by social and cultural regulations which define what is normal and abnormal behaviour, rather than by what they do. As such, in cultures docility and order are virtuous traits, children on the active end of the active-passive spectrum may be viewed as problematic. Therefore, according to this theory, defining their behaviour by giving labels such as ADHD removes the blame from people or societal factors 'causing this problem'. Constructionists highlight the lack of biological basis of ADHD as a critical flaw in the classification of ADHD as a real disorder (McCubbin and Cohen, 1999) (Baldwin, …show more content…
The NICE guidelines indicate that for a diagnosis of ADHD, symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and/or inattention should meet the diagnostic criteria outlined in DSM-IV or ICD-10 (hyperkinetic disorder), and be linked with at least a moderate psychological, social and/or educational or impairment based on interview and/or direct observation in multiple settings, and be pervasive, occurring in two or more important everyday settings (NICE, 2016). This diagnosis can only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or a healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD (NICE,