Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is it over diagnosed?

Many articles scholarly and non-scholarly research the affects and problems of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These articles range from how the disorder is diagnosed to the types of medication prescribed. This paper will summarize an article on ADHD as well as define the research and its purpose, explain the problem under investigation, identify the parties involved in conducting the research, and finally describe the method used to conduct the research project (Kollins, 17).

The parties involved in this research were Joseph Biederman and Stephen V. Faraone as well as colleagues. These individuals give seminars as well as conduct research for pharmaceutical development. The research was conducted by viewing other previously documented case studies through families and other associations (Wolraich et al., 1734).

The current research purpose is to explain the epidemiology and diagnosis, cause, biological adversity, psychosocial adversity, and treatment of individuals with ADHD. According to Biederman and Faraone (2005), "ADHD affects 8-12% of children worldwide, and results in inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity" (p. 237). These symptoms can affect school performance, social skills, and occupational functions.

The precise cause of this disorder is not fully understood but it is known to be genetic and a chemical imbalance in the brain. Individuals diagnosed must meet specific criteria in order to be diagnosed with this disorder; these include hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity, although these symptoms can be with or without the hyperactivity.

Stimulant drugs are used in the treatment of ADHD, but some have questioned the possibility of ADHD being over diagnosed by physicians. According to the article from Biederman and Faraone (2005), "The rate of outpatient treatment for ADHD has also risen from 0.9 per 100 children in 1987 to 3.4 per 100 children in 1997" (p. 239). These studies show an increase in the diagnosis and ...