Pediatric Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is an extremely common problem for millions of students today. It is one of the most vastly researched pediatric mental health disorder, and controversy over its diagnosis is still very prevalent today. It is a disorder that includes a variety of symptoms including hyperactivity, fidgeting, excessive talking, and impulsivity according to the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Many of these symptoms, however, could easily be observed in any child during various points in his life. Consequently, it has become increasingly easy to acquire a prescription for the very powerful stimulants which are given to combat the symptoms that may not even be a result of ADHD. Given the fact that many of the symptoms
of ADHD overlap with many characteristics of all children in various parts of development, ADHD is an over-diagnosed mental disorder in the United States.
ADHD is a legitimate mental disorder that occurs because of an imbalance of norepinephrine in the brain.
Many magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that “ADHD is characterized by multiple functional and structural neural network abnormalities beyond the classical fronto-striatal model” (Rubia). It is a common disorder, especially in pediatric patients, but the diagnosis for it has increased dramatically in within the last twenty years. Most children are hyperactive which is simply a part of being a child. Children need to learn how to control this hyperactivity in a manner that does not require an immediate prescription. These prescription stimulants that physicians give out so easily to children may even increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including many other health issues. Physicians need to consider a non-medicated approach if there is simply a suspicion of ADHD. There is no examination or lab test in order to test for this disorder because it is solely based on symptoms. It is very likely that many children being diagnosed with ADHD today do not actually have the disorder and are being prescribed amphetamines for no reason at
all.
The overdiagnosis of ADHD plays a significant role in contemporary society. When children are prescribed amphetamines they are no longer able to be themselves. Although they are able to focus more easily, these drugs strip the children of their personalities. Some children actually do have ADHD, and the benefits outweigh the risks for them, but most of the time that is not always the case. This is an extremely important topic to bring to the attention of all people because society should be looking in the best interest of its children. Every time a medication is taken, it affects the liver even just a small amount. If someone begins taking a strong stimulant during childhood and continues into adulthood, it could cause years of damage to the liver. When patients are prescribed medications, the physician rarely goes over every risk and side effect possible, and many people may not even be aware of this issue associated with medications. ADHD diagnosis has increased in the United States more than any other country recently. The citizens of this country need to be as proactive as possible in order to stop this epidemic. Children are usually not able to speak for themselves, so it is up to this society to speak for them.
In the past decade, the rate of ADHD diagnosis has increased significantly by approximately 24% (Pay Attention: ADHD Diagnoses Increased by 24%).
This means 6.4 million school age children are on prescription medications for ADHD. One of the various factors contributing to this is the fact that people so desire biological explanations for every little problem and prescriptions to fix these problems (Grohol). This is why physicians and pharmaceutical companies have grabbed on to what is “essentially a PR campaign—perhaps the most successful one in the last thirty years in the Western industrialized nations” (Grohol). Many people believe that if there is a mental issue, it automatically has a biochemical explanation and can be treated with medication, but that is not necessarily true (Grohol). For this reason, ADHD has become such a business for many pharmaceutical companies. They are able to strategize and persuade consumers that medication is vital in order to be a well-functioning member of society (ADHD Prescriptions Have
Risen). While ADHD is seen as an extremely profitable business for pharmaceutical companies, others argue that the increase in diagnosis is due to poor statistics. According to the FDA, recent studies of the use of stimulants in children have calculated misdiagnoses into its data. There have been other studies and research on factors affecting diagnostic accuracy, and many have argued that the information concerning ADHD rates derived from parents reporting the diagnostic statuses for their children through phone interviews (Park). Statistically speaking, these reports are not as reliable as the verified diagnoses from medical or school records.
There are many different sources that offer ADHD statistics that vary greatly. Research statistics for any disorder will most likely have slightly different data than other sources that have performed the same research. This is the case especially when taking data through telephone interviews. These interviews may not be preferred, but they can still be very useful for researchers. Most children are diagnosed with ADHD by their pediatricians or family doctors who may not be specialized enough to provide accurate evaluations that reliable diagnoses demand (Park). This can lead to misdiagnosis, and misdiagnoses are still accounted for in statistical research. In 2007, Dr. Robert Spitzer, the founder of ADHD, stated that up to 30% of children are misdiagnosed with the disorder (ADHD Prescriptions Have Risen). If the man who discovered ADHD puts the misdiagnosis figure as high as thirty percent, then there is a chance that it could be even higher. This could be a serious issue if healthy children are being prescribed unnecessary medications (ADHD Prescriptions Have Risen).