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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder controversies

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ss06470 (talk | contribs) at 14:38, 8 June 2008 (→Media Coverage of the ADHD Controversy). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

PET scans show which parts of the brain are being used at a particular moment. In this example, the parts of the brain being used by someone diagnosed with ADHD are compared to the brain activity of a person not diagnosed with ADHD when both have been assigned a task requiring attention. While seemingly illustrative of a biological difference in the two brains, it is not. It simply shows that the person with ADHD is not attending to the assigned task

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental, neurobehavioural disorder, widely recognized by the medical and scientific community as causing impairment, especially in children. Attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains a controversial disorder, despite it now being a well validated clinical diagnosis. [1] Continued claims that the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder deserve greater scrutiny are made by some news sources, social critics, religions, and individual medical professionals. The government of the United Kingdom recognizes it as a "controversial diagnosis". [2] . Ethical and legal issues with regard to treatment have been key areas of concern. [3] The UN's International Narcotics Control Board issued warnings in 1996 about the dramatically increasing use of methylphenidate, primarily in the United States although the use of medication has since leveled off. [4] They were concerned that the use of Ritalin was being actively promoted by an influential parent association, which had received significant financial contributions from the preparation's leading United States manufacturer. It is noteworthy, that it has recently been revealed that the most renowned "expert" in this field, Dr. Joseph Biederman of Harvard, failed to report to Harvard that he had received 1.6 million dollars from drug companies. [1] “The price we pay for these kinds of revelations is credibility, and we just can’t afford to lose any more of that in this field,” said Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, executive director of the Stanley Medical Research Institute, which finances psychiatric studies. “In the area of child psychiatry in particular, we know much less than we should, and we desperately need research that is not influenced by industry money.” [2]

In response to their own concern that ADHD was being diagnosed too often, in May 2000, after more than two years of deliberation, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a more careful set of standards and guidelines to aid clinicians than merely using DSM-IV. [5] Those who believe in the social construct theory of ADHD disagree over the cause of ADHD, question research methodologies [6]are skeptical toward its classification as a mental disorder, [7] and wonder about the effects of diagnosis on the mental state of patients, [8] [9]. Certain religions, especially Scientology also hold fringe viewpoints about the disorder. Scientologists are against almost all aspects of psychiatric practice, and are highly skeptical that the diagnosis denotes a genuine impairment.

Concerns about medication

Main article: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder treatments

The National Institute of Mental Health states that, "stimulant drugs, when used with medical supervision, are usually considered quite safe".[10] PBS believes that, "stimulants, unlike most psychiatric medications, are very well-studied drugs and, at this point, well-trusted by doctors"[11]. Still, individual parents and individual professionals have raised questions about the side effects of drugs and their long term use.[12]

Alternative theories concerning ADHD

Main article: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

There are several fringe theories that have attempted to explain ADHD. The most popular one is the Hunter vs. farmer theory which believes that those with ADHD still have older "hunter characteristics". The Neurodiversity theory believes that ADHD is a term that describes a difference of behavior and that this difference should be celebrated. Those who believe in the social construct theory of ADHD question everything about ADHD and believe the disorder was fabricated.

Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions that most[who?] people have about ADHD, among them, "Having ADHD means the person is lazy or dumb."[citation needed] Teachers will sometimes disregard a diagnosis of ADD, accrediting a student's lack of motivation to mere laziness.[13][14] The misconception of a someone with ADHD as the equivalent of someone who is intellectually deficient, is so common that many[who?] would argue that it is a hegemony among the public.[clarification needed]


Media Coverage of the ADHD Controversy

The media has reported on various ADHD controversies and on the views of individuals and organisations who have controversial opinions.

In 2001 PBS' Frontline ran a five part TV series entitled "Medicating kids".[15] The program included a selection of interviews with representatives of various points of view. ADHD critics Dr Fred Baughman and Dr Peter Breggin were interviewed on the legitimacy of the disorder, while Russell Barkley and Xavier Castellanos, then head of ADHD research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), defended the viability of the disorder, although Dr. Castellanos freely admitted how little is scientifically understood.[16] Lawrence Diller was interviewed on the business of ADHD along with a representative from Shire Plc.

Baroness Susan Greenfield, a leading neuroscientist,[17] wanted a wide-ranging inquiry in the House of Lords, into the dramatic increase in the diagnosis of ADHD in the UK and possible causes.[18] following a BBC Panorama programme which highlighted US research (The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD by the University of Buffalo showing treatment results of 600) suggesting drugs are no better than therapy for ADHD in the long-term.

A number of notable individuals have given their opinion on ADHD. Tom Cruise's interview with Matt Lauer was widely watched by the public. In this interview he spoke about postpartum depression and also referred to Ritalin and Adderall as being "street drugs" rather then as ADHD medication. Dr. Terence Kealey, a clinical biochemist, wrote critical article for The Times.[19] Benedict Carey has written a number of critical articles in the New York Times on the practice of psychiatry, especially with children diagnosed with bipolar disorder and/or ADHD.[20][21]

Religious and Social critics claims of controversy

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, "the uproar over Ritalin was triggered almost single-handedly by the Scientology movement."[22] The Citizens Commission on Human Rights, an anti-psychiatry group formed by Scientologists in 1969, conducted a major campaign against Ritalin in the 1980s and lobbied Congress for an investigation of Ritalin.[22]. Scientology publications identified the "real target of the campaign" as "the psychiatric profession itself" and claimed the campaign "brought wide acceptance of the fact that (the commission) [sic] and the Scientologists are the ones effectively doing something about [...] psychiatric drugging".[22] Scientology still claims, "the controversy over the many deaths and irreversible damage caused by psychiatric drugs prescribed for children labeled with... ADHD continues to grow".[23] The church contends that mental disorders don't exist[24] and that, "mental and behavioral problems are largely incorrect diagnoses that cover symptoms and don't handle the real problems, which may be physical or spiritual".[25] The Desert Morning news states that, "Scientologists are not afraid of hyperbole".

Critics from the Anti-Psychiatry movement such as Fred Baughman and Peter Breggin[26][27][28][29] have extensively used the popular media to criticize ADHD and medications used for ADHD. They have also testified at Congressional hearings on the use of Ritalin and supported legal challenges such as the Ritalin class action lawsuits. Both doctors had associations with Scientology in the past but neither belongs to the church.[30][31][32][33][34][35]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: legal and ethical aspects - Foreman 91 (2): 192 - Archives of Disease in Childhood
  2. ^ everychildmatters.gov.uk
  3. ^ Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: legal and ethical aspects - Foreman 91 (2): 192 - Archives of Disease in Childhood
  4. ^ PBS - frontline: medicating kids: backlash: united nations' warnings on ritalin
  5. ^ PBS - frontline: medicating kids: adhd: american academy of pediatrics' guidelines
  6. ^ http://www.psychminded.co.uk/news/news2006/feb06/Disordered%20thinking.htm Comment by James, Adam, “Disordered thinking?” Psychminded 14 Feb. 2006.
  7. ^ name="Tim&Rad">Timimi, Sami & Radcliffe, Nick. “The Rise and Rise of ADHD.” Making and Breaking Children's Lives. Ed. Craig Newnes. Ross-on-Wye: PCCS Books, 2005. 63-70.
  8. ^ name="Tim&Rad"
  9. ^ Article for Ethical Human Sciences and Services
  10. ^ NIMH · ADHD · The Treatment of ADHD
  11. ^ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/etc/adhdupdate.html
  12. ^ Lakhan SE; Hagger-Johnson G. http://www.cpementalhealth.com/content/3/1/21 The impact of prescribed psychotropics on youth. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 2007;3(21).
  13. ^ Misconceptions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - MSN Health & Fitness - Health Topics
  14. ^ For Adults, ADHD Can Stunt Life
  15. ^ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/adhd/ Medicating Kids
  16. ^ PBS - frontline: medicating kids: interviews: xavier castellanos, m.d
  17. ^ Baroness Susan Greenfield
  18. ^ BBC NEWS | Health | Peer calls for ADHD care review
  19. ^ Boisterous boys are too much like hard work, so we drug them into conformity | Terence Kealey - Times Online
  20. ^ Parenting as Therapy for Child's Mental Disorders - New York Times
  21. ^ What’s Wrong With a Child? Psychiatrists Often Disagree - New York Times
  22. ^ a b c Sappell, Joel (1990-06-29). "Suits, Protests Fuel a Campaign Against Psychiatry". Los Angeles Times. p. A48:1. Retrieved 2006-11-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Backup copy link here
  23. ^ Real-Life Horrors Fuel Growing Outrage Over Deadly ADHD Drugs
  24. ^ Its Not All In the Genes - Citizens Commission on Human Rights
  25. ^ Deseret News | Scientology: Church now claims more than 8 million members
  26. ^ Talking Back to Ritalin-New Breggin Book Excerpts
  27. ^ An Anti-Psychiatry Reading List
  28. ^ Online Dictionary of Mental Health
  29. ^ TOC - Antipsychiatry Reading Room
  30. ^ Kurt Cobain - Citizens Commission on Human Rights
  31. ^ Psychiatric Drugs
  32. ^ Error
  33. ^ Why are Scientologists opposed to the use of Ritalin? The President of the Church of Scientology Answers Your Questions
  34. ^ Ritalin Information: Side Effects, Cautions, Alternatives, ADD, ADHD
  35. ^ The Child Protection Racket; Freedom Magazine
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