Psy 515 Critical Issue Analysis
University of Phoenix Material
Critical Issue Analysis
After reading the selected critical issue, use the following questions to analyze the issue.
1. What are at least two facts presented by each side of the critical issue? The NIMH cites studies which have shown that 25% of family members of those suffering from ADHD also have ADHD, and that studies concerning identical twins also show that genetic considerations play a large role in the development of ADHD (Halgin, 2009). Further, the NIMH mentions several clear neurological differences in children that exhibit behavioral signs of ADHD compared with controls: 1) decreased white matter volume; 2) smaller overall brains and; 3) abnormalities in the basal ganglia. These clear observations would seem to necessitate a biological basis for ADHD; however, the results do not conclude causation, only correlation. Therefore, it is not clear whether the biological abnormalities cause the behavioral signs of ADHD or whether the behavior/environmental stimuli itself cause the biological abnormalities. Wright pulls from a study of 168,113 children/adolescents that exhibited signs of ADHD in 39 states. This study concluded that the number of children on medication could be reduced through the use of the institution of a compassionate male role model in the child’s life and counseling (Halgin, 2009). These results would seem to purport that environmental factors play a larger part in ADHD symptoms than genetic/biological factors. However, Wright is quick to differentiate between emotionally caused ADHD and neurologically caused ADHD. Moreover, Wright intones that, historically speaking, symptoms of hyperactivity and attention deficits have been treated as secondary symptoms of a larger psychoneurological problem, rather than a cause in and of itself. He explains that in the past medication for ADHD symptoms was only a temporary fix until a solution to the underlying problem could be found.
2. What are at
Critical Issue Analysis
After reading the selected critical issue, use the following questions to analyze the issue.
1. What are at least two facts presented by each side of the critical issue? The NIMH cites studies which have shown that 25% of family members of those suffering from ADHD also have ADHD, and that studies concerning identical twins also show that genetic considerations play a large role in the development of ADHD (Halgin, 2009). Further, the NIMH mentions several clear neurological differences in children that exhibit behavioral signs of ADHD compared with controls: 1) decreased white matter volume; 2) smaller overall brains and; 3) abnormalities in the basal ganglia. These clear observations would seem to necessitate a biological basis for ADHD; however, the results do not conclude causation, only correlation. Therefore, it is not clear whether the biological abnormalities cause the behavioral signs of ADHD or whether the behavior/environmental stimuli itself cause the biological abnormalities. Wright pulls from a study of 168,113 children/adolescents that exhibited signs of ADHD in 39 states. This study concluded that the number of children on medication could be reduced through the use of the institution of a compassionate male role model in the child’s life and counseling (Halgin, 2009). These results would seem to purport that environmental factors play a larger part in ADHD symptoms than genetic/biological factors. However, Wright is quick to differentiate between emotionally caused ADHD and neurologically caused ADHD. Moreover, Wright intones that, historically speaking, symptoms of hyperactivity and attention deficits have been treated as secondary symptoms of a larger psychoneurological problem, rather than a cause in and of itself. He explains that in the past medication for ADHD symptoms was only a temporary fix until a solution to the underlying problem could be found.
2. What are at
References: Halgin, R. (2009). Taking sides: Clashing views in abnormal psychology (5th ed.). New York,NY: McGraw-Hill. Müller, U. C., Asherson, P., Banaschewski, T., Buitelaar, J. K., Ebstein, R. P., Eisenberg, J., & ... Steinhausen, H. (2011). The impact of study design and diagnostic approach in a large multi-centre ADHD study. Part 1: ADHD symptom patterns. BMC Psychiatry, 11(1), 54-74. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-11-54