Laura Batstra1, Edo H Nieweg, Mijna Hadders-Algra.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: The number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and treated with medication is steadily increasing. The aim of this paper was to critically discuss five debatable assumptions on ADHD that may explain these trends to some extent. These are that ADHD (i) causes deviant behaviour, (ii) is a disease, (iii) is chronic and (iv) is best treated by medication and (v) that classification should precede treatment.
CONCLUSION: We argue that ADHD is not a disease, not the cause of deviant behaviour and in most cases not chronic. Treatment for attention and hyperactivity problems could start with psychosocial interventions and without a diagnostic label. A stepped diagnosis approach may reduce overdiagnosis without risking undertreatment. ©2014 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
UNLABELLED: The number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and treated with medication is steadily increasing. The aim of this paper was to critically discuss five debatable assumptions on ADHD that may explain these trends to some extent. These are that ADHD (i) causes deviant behaviour, (ii) is a disease, (iii) is chronic and (iv) is best treated by medication and (v) that classification should precede treatment.
CONCLUSION: We argue that ADHD is not a disease, not the cause of deviant behaviour and in most cases not chronic. Treatment for attention and hyperactivity problems could start with psychosocial interventions and without a diagnostic label. A stepped diagnosis approach may reduce overdiagnosis without risking undertreatment. ©2014 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Entities:
Keywords:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; epidemiology; overdiagnosis; psychotropic drugs; undertreatment
Mesh：
Year: 2014
PMID： 24661108 DOI： 10.1111/apa.12642
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Acta Paediatr ISSN： 0803-5253 Impact factor: 2.299