Adhd, Drugs and Behavior Therapy

ADHD, Drugs and Behavior Therapy

Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) are being over medicated with a stimulant medication and can be treated effectively with behavior modification. As the diagnosis and treatments are fairly new we need to be doubtful over the treatment that calls for doctors to give children stimulant medications. Researchers from the University of Buffalo found that behavioral therapy could cut the need for stimulant medications by up to two-thirds (Barrow, K. 2005). This is good news for parents and children with ADHD.

However, the past two decades the hyperactive child has caused controversy (Johnson, 1988). Since, "ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence with 3% to 5% of children in the United States have the disorder (Woodard, R., 2006. p.1)". Over the past few decades alarming amount of children being diagnosed with ADHD and parents, teachers and doctors should look more closely before making a diagnosis. Hinshaw states that, "there is an increased assumption that children who are inattentive or over active have ADHD and these assumptions are far from true for the relatively small group of children who display all of the behaviors at extreme levels, and early age and in multiple settings (1996).

Furthermore, parents with ADHD children are under pressure from other parents, teachers, doctors and others because they do not want their children to be stereotyped as an "over-active child" or an "unintelligent child." Are parents and teachers seeing lack of attention and poor behavior skills in children as symptoms of ADHD? Is it not normal for children to be inattentive at times and is not poor behavior a sign of a disruptive home life?

Moreover, if parents or teachers have cared for children with ADHD then they know the havoc it causes in their lives and the lives of their families (Cliggot Publishing Co., 1999). At school these children are restless, inattentive, are often disruptive and consequently rejected from their peers for their behavior (Cliggott Publishing Co., 1999.) These children also suffer from lack of self-esteem (Johnson, 1988). There is also a lack of agreement on the best way to diagnose and treat the disorder which can end up costing a bunch of money in medical care that is not covered under medical insurance (Cliggott Publishing Co., 1999.) There is a need for doctors and psychotics to conduct more tests on how to diagnose and treat ADHD and unfortunately the lack of a standardized test has led to either over diagnosis or under diagnosis (Cliggott Publishing Co., 1999).

In addition, Robert Woodard a Nurse Practitioner for a multi-provider practice in Torrington, CT. and an alumnus of Yale University School of Nursing writes that to identify ADHD a child should display symptoms in more than one setting and be tested by a pediatric primary provider (2003). The doctor should look back through the child's background, give the child a physical exam, and rate the child's behavior (Woodard, 2006). There is also a lack of professionals, doctors and teachers communicating with each other. Communication would help with the success of a child with ADHD.

Furthermore, Harriette Johnson PhD is an Associate Professor, School of social work, University of Connecticut writes from the social workers point on whether children with ADHD should be treated with drugs, counseling or diet (1988). Johnson says that currently the most effective single treatment for ADHD is a stimulant medication. Of the children treated with a stimulant medication 70 to 80 percent of children respond positively and show remarkable improvement in their decline of motor activity, fighting and aggressive behaviors, negativism and argumentativeness, and increase attention span and ability to listen (1988). Of the children who do not respond to the first medication, 90 percent will respond to a secondary medication (Woodard, 2006). This view is accepted by most researchers, and clinicians working with ADHD (Johnson 1988). The desired result is a child that can be attentive, sit still and be socially accepted in school or around peers.

Moreover, doctors began using stimulant medications to treat ADHD in the 1930s (Strattera, 2006). Over the centuries there are hundreds of investigations which show the benefits of stimulant medication given to ADHD children (Hinshaw,1996). While medicated their attention is improved and their aggression is decreased. Parents and teachers like the fact that the children respond to the medication right away. Parents are given the option of given the children a medication that lasts 4 to 6 hours or 6 to 8 hours and often opt for enough time for the child to complete a school day.

However, stimulant medication is not a cure for ADHD. The use of stimulant medication is not without problems. The evidence regarding whether medication improves school performance is mixed, the time course for the medications is short and gains of the medication does not persist after it is worn off, the potential of side-effects limits stimulant use to school hours which limits medicated time to spend with peers or family, and finally there is no evidence of long-term gain from the medication (Hinshaw, 1996).

In addition, while stimulant drugs may seem like a quick fix for to treat ADHD they are being given to children despite the side effects the drugs may have. There are many side effects of the stimulant medication. The side effects of the medication are anorexia with weight loss, insomnia, headache, and abdominal pain, lack of sleep and nervousness or jitteriness (Woodard 2006). To help treat the side effects children are then given more medication to treat the side effects. Many children who take stimulant medication suffer from insomnia and are given Diphenydramine (Benadryl) as a sedative to induce sleep (Woodard 2006). To help children with the lack of sleep they are then given another drug, a sleeping pill, to go to sleep (Johnson, H., 1988). Since ADHD has only recently been diagnosed are these children being treated in the most effective manner? Are they being medicated to help them or to keep them from disturbing adults who do not want to take the time to spend with them?

Furthermore, parents whose children who are medicated can opt not to give the children medicine while not in school. On the weekends and after school the parents do not give the children stimulant medicine (Woodard 2006). If parents are capable of managing their children without help of medication then teachers should be capable of managing children during school hours.

As well Johnson states, "ADHD is a condition which developmentally inappropriate degrees of inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity are evident (1988, p.1)." Children with ADHD should