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
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
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