Overdiagnosis and Overprescribing ADHD

• Diagnosed and treated with medication

• Diagnosed, but should seek other alternatives

• ADHD does not actually exist

Photo credit: Corbis

One of the most common childhood

disorders and can continue through

adolescence and adulthood.

Symptoms include difficulty staying

focused and paying attention,

difficulty controlling behavior, and

hyperactivity.-National institute of Mental Health

Inattentive presentation:

-Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.

-Has difficulty sustaining attention.

-Does not appear to listen.

-Struggles to follow through on instructions.

-Has difficulty with organization.

-Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring a lot of thinking.

-Loses things.

-Is easily distracted.

-Is forgetful in daily activities.

Hyperactive-impulsive presentation:• Fidgets with hands or feet or

squirms in chair.

• Has difficulty remaining seated.

• Runs about or climbs excessively in children; extreme restlessness in adults.

• Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.

• Acts as if driven by a motor; adults will often feel inside like they were driven by a motor.

• Talks excessively.

• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.

• Difficulty waiting or taking turns.

• Interrupts or intrudes upon others

-Provided by the DSM V

Stakeholders

• Pharmaceutical companies

• Children

• Caregivers

• Psychologists

www.cchrint.org

Proper diagnosis, need medications to treat ADHD symptoms

• Reduces symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity in children and adults

• Majority of children benefit from these medications and have mild side effects

• In addition to medications, other steps must be taken to show positive results

ConsumerReports.org

Diagnosed and seeking other alternatives without medication

• Psychotherapy (Behavioral intervention)

• Set schedule, organization

• Clarity and consistency

• Care givers, give praise and rewards

“ADHD does not actually exist”

“I require a full evaluation to find the source of the problem. Usually, once the original condition is found and treated, the ADHD symptoms go away.”- Dr. Richard Saulwww.ddcdrsaul.com

Inattentive presentation:

-Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.

-Has difficulty sustaining attention.

-Does not appear to listen.

-Struggles to follow through on instructions.

-Has difficulty with organization.

-Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring a lot of thinking.

-Loses things.

-Is easily distracted.

-Is forgetful in daily activities.

Hyperactive-impulsive presentation:

-Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair.

-Has difficulty remaining seated.

-Runs about or climbs excessively in children; extreme restlessness in adults.

-Difficulty engaging in activities quietly.

-Acts as if driven by a motor; adults will often feel inside like they were driven by a motor.-Talks excessively.

-Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.

-Difficulty waiting or taking turns.Interrupts or intrudes upon others

Works Cited

Consumer Reports. “The pros and cons of treating ADHD with drugs.” Consumer reports.org, June 2010. Web. 17 April 2014.

Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Damon Ramsey,MD. Help Guide Organization, February 2014. Web. 17 April 2014.

National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH. May 2013. Web. 18 April 2014.

Saul, Richard. Time.“Doctor: ADHD Does Not Exist.” Harper Collins, 14 March 2014. Web. 17 April 2014.Dopfner, Manfred, Rothenberger, Aribert. “Behavior therapy in tic-disorders with co-existing ADHD.” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2 June 2007. Web. 23 April 2014.

Kieling, Christan, Polanczyk, Guilherme V., Rohde, Luis A., Salum, Giovanni A. “ADHD prevalence estimates across three decades:an updated systematic review and met-regression analysis.” International Journal of Epidemiology. 21 November 2013. Web. 21 April 2014.

National Institute of Health. “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” National Institute of Mental Health. Web. 16 April 2014.

Pajo, Bora, Stuart, Paul H. “A comparative review of “how to” books for parents of ADHD children and “how to” books for parents of typical children.” Science Direct. April 2012. Web. 25 April 2014

Ramsey, Damon, Robinson, Lawerence, Segal, Jeanne, Smith, Melinda. “ADD/ADHD Medications” Helpguide.org. February 2014. Web. 17 April 2014.Saul, Richard. “ADHD Does Not Exist.” New Republic. 14 February 2014. Harper Collins. Web. 17 April 2014.“The Pros and Cons of Treating ADHD with drugs.” Consumer Reports. 2010. Web. 21 April 2014.