...The Controversy of Medication DeAnna Bentz AED222: Intro to the exceptional Learner Professor: Christine Tucci March 25, 2012 The Controversy of Medication When it comes to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and EBD (Emotional and Behavior Disorder) have many controversies. (Rosenberg, Westling, & McLeskey, 2007). These controversies are about to reasons: do they exist and should medication be used to treat them? Another question is, are there alternative treatments for ADHD and EBD? In this paper I will also give my opinion on the subject. The controversy of medicating children with ADHD and EBD has recently increased. It has increased due to the fact that more and more children are being diagnosed with these disorders. ADHD and EBD can be hard to diagnose, it takes a lot of documentation. (Rosenberg, Westling, & McLeskey,2007). Some of this documentation will include what characteristics are present in the child. These characteristics for ADHD include: difficulty focusing, cannot sit for extended period of time, very unorganized and difficult following directions. The characteristics for EBD include: a do not care attitude, can be socially disruptive, keeps to oneself at times and physically and verbally abusive. ADHD and EBD can be treated with medication and alternative treatments. ADHD is mostly treated with medication. Some of these medications are Ritalin, Adderoll and Concerta. These are all called stimulants. The controversy to this is...
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...doctors and scientists have more information about the causes and treatment of ADHD today, there is an interesting history around this disorder which had many different theories and beliefs. Discovered over one hundred years ago, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not a recent medical discovery. It was first described in about 1902 by George Still, an English pediatrician, who had observed a group of patients and recognized them as being inattentive, over active and suffering from a "lack of moral control". After George Still's discovery, many controversies followed. It was believed that ADHD was a result of brain damage, but when doctors realized that most children with ADHD had no brain damage, that idea was discarded. ADHD was then called Hyperactive Child Syndrome, where all the focus was on hyperactivity. In addition to this, Dr Ben Feingold researched a link between ones diet and hyperactivity, but this controversy was soon proven to not have much effect. Today, it is known that ADHD is strongly hereditary and is, as mentioned before, believed to be caused by the imbalance of dopamine and noradrenaline chemicals in one's brain. This subtle difference in the brain causes ADHD, as inattentiveness and hyperactivity, and can display itself through a number of different symptoms. There is not one definite test for ADHD, but rather a series of steps...
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...treatment of depression with antidepressants is suicide. The Food and Drug Administration recently required the addition of warnings of heightened suicidal thoughts or behavior in people under the age of twenty- five to the boxes of antidepressant medications. This expanded the window of increased risk from children and adolescents all the way to twenty- five year olds (Carey). Seeing this warning on the medication understandably raises concern amongst the patient and the patient’s family as they do not want a medication to be the result of their family member’s death. The patients have already suffered enough hurt as a result of their depression, and they should not have to suffer more due the side effects of a medication taken to prevent the disease. As with every medication, there are two sides to the controversy. When researchers looked at and directly compared the rates of prescribed antidepressants with rates of suicide, the results indicate that the more antidepressants are prescribed, suicide rates go down (Rosack). Some people believe that no treatment leads to more suicides than treatment with antidepressants, and that people killed themselves as a result of untreated depression more than they killed themselves as a result of the medication. When taking antidepressants, the patient should think carefully about the side effects and assure themselves that it is something they are willing to...
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... The signs and symptoms for mental illness vary in every person depending on the possible disorder and because every person’s perception of “normal” is different. Changes in behavior, mood and personality, sadness, crying, anger, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, and withdrawal from family and friends are just a few of the signs and symptoms related to mental illness. It is very difficult to find the exact cause of a mental illness, but research shows that these conditions can be caused from a combination of genetics, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Realizing and accepting that a problem exists and seeking help and treatment can sometimes be the hardest piece in diagnosing a mental illness. The two major controversies surrounding mental illness that bring forward many different viewpoints are how is the condition diagnosed and what treatment method is the most effective (Parker, 2008). Clinicians, researchers, and civilian...
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...ADHD, Whether or Not to Medicate a Child Samantha Edmondson COM/155 September 21, 2014 Laura L. Griepp ADHD, Whether or Not to Medicate a Child With the diagnosis of ADHD in children becoming such a controversial subject because of the medications that doctors prescribe; parents have difficult decisions to make. My son, T.J., has had ADHD since he was five years old, and has had many trials and tribulations with the medication that his doctor placed him on to help with the issues that come from ADHD. The medication has made him very violent with his little brother, and he has had emotional episodes to the point of hospitalization and has also excelled in school because of the choice that I made to place him on the medication. For parents, there are many things that need careful consideration when deciding whether medication is the right avenue to take for their child’s course of treatment. Things to consider are diagnosis and treatment, what the pros and cons of taking the medication be, and whether or not the medication is the right decision for their child because of all the controversy behind this disorder. When a parent first starts to question if their child has a diagnosis of ADHD there are a couple things that need addressing in order to find out for sure. In order to receive a diagnosis for ADHD; the child needs to be showing certain symptoms that go along with the disorder. Symptoms to look for in a child that could have ADHD are things like having trouble focusing...
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...The Controversy of Medicating Kids Colette Sims AED/222 April 22, 2012 Monica Santiago The Controversy of Medicating Kids There are some benefits of taking medications such as Ritalin, Adderall and Effexor for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and for children with Emotional Behavior Disorders (EBD), as well as some concerns. Some of the benefits include the improvement of a child’s attention span for longer lengths of time, trouble with depression and for the purpose of focusing on their lessons in class which results in the child improvement in their grades. Some of the concerns include giving children medication not really knowing if they need it. After watching the video, “Medicating Kids,” I could form an opinion about how the different medications can affect the children. In some it had an affect and it seemed to have a positive affect on most of the children in the video, According to Dr. Xavier Castellanos of the National Institute of mental health who states, “There is no known reason of what causes ADHD and there is no known reason as to why stimulants are effective.” After viewing the video, I have to wonder if the effects of the drugs were psychological in the children. With the exception of Nicholas, all the other children were aware that they were taking these drugs and shoed an improvement. I have to side with the psychologists who say children do not need to take medication for what is normal behavior in children. ...
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...The Controversy of Medication The controversy of medicating a child who has EBD or ADHD is big, people may not even realize how big it is because it’s hiding in the bushes so to speak, people try to keep it quiet so people don’t form a panic when they find out how their children will be affected if they give them the medication to slow their disability down. Now I say disability light heartedly, because people like to treat children with these conditions like they are breakable, and they shouldn’t, children with these problems should be treated like any normal person in society, just with special care. The most common known drug out there to thin out the possibility or idea of these conditions is Ritalin, there are some successes out there, but there a lot of people who take their children off of it because of the side effects and how different their children start to seem after being on the medication for a prolonged period of time. According to The American Psychological Association, a Dr. Peter Jensen conducted a period of trials on children to see if the medication actually worked and how well it worked, it came back a year later that only 60% of children treated had a success, and the rest failed, but it is said that this medication is not for everyone and it can have some severe side effects. (para. 11). The Helium (2007) website says that the pros and cons of medicating children with these behaviors can include more sleep for those medicated, and less sleep for those...
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...Depression and Psychotropic Medication PD Psychopharmacology CHMC 640 Depression and Psychotropic Medication Depression is often defined as a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that impacts the way a person thinks, acts, and feels and can have an impact on one’s physical and mental well-being. It is estimated that depression affects 1 out of 10 Americans and that 80% of people exhibiting symptoms re not receiving any form of treatment (http://www.healthline.com). Other statistics revealed that individuals exhibiting symptoms of depression are more likely to have a history of being obese, having heart disease, strokes, suffer from sleep disorders, have lower education, less access to medical care, are unemployed, and recently divorced. These biopsychosocial factors that lead to the onset of depression can also be impacted by such things as age, gender, and ethnicity. While such symptoms and factors of depression can be treated in many different ways, studies have proven that between 60-80% of all cases involving depression can successfully be treated by combining psychotherapy and pharmacological constructs (http://www.healthline.com), the latter which shall be explored in greater detail. History of Medication Although plant extracts such as opium, thorn apple St. Johns wort, Henbane, Indian hemp, deadly nightshade, hypericum oil, alcohol, caffeine, cannabis and other natural remedies have been used for past 3000 years treat...
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...Bipolar Disorder: Research, Controversy and Treatment Abstract Bipolar disorders are mood disorders that include one or more manic or hypomanic episodes and usually one or more depressive episode. Although the exact explanation of the onset of this disorder is not known, there are several different theories the may apply. A considerable amount of research is now being conducted to identify causes for the mood disorders. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder has led to many controversies as to whether the disorder is misdiagnosed, overdiagnosed, or underdiagnosed. There are also many different treatment methods streaming from medications such as SSRI’s to electro-convulsive shock therapy (ECT). Bipolar Disorder: Research, Controversy and Treatment Bipolar disorder has been a mystery since the sixteenth century and can appear in almost anyone. Bipolar disorders are mood disorders that include one or more manic or hypomanic episodes and usually one or more depressive episode (Varcarolis). Between the elevated and depressed mood episodes, the person may experience long periods of a normal stable mood. There are many different symptoms of bipolar disorder and each person may or may not act the same way, therefore, bipolar disorder has been broken down into different subcategories of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. Although the exact explanation of the onset of this disorder is not known, there are several different...
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...To Legalize or Not to Legalize Medical Marijuana Elizabeth Connell ENG/102 Research Writing To Legalize or Not to Legalize Medical Marijuana Even though marijuana is a drug, legalized marijuana for medicinal use will help patients through various medical issues. Marijuana has been proven to ease the side effects of chemotherapy, helps patients with severe migraine, and glaucoma patients. Many people are on the fence over the legalization of medical marijuana. There are several reasons to legalize marijuana for medical use, let me tell you about one of the reasons. Six-year-old Charlotte is a little girl who suffered from an untreatable form of epilepsy. By the time she was two years old, her parents had tried all medications to cure her some of which almost killed her. She suffered nearly fifty seizures a night. Her parents managed to get her a medical marijuana card in Colorado. Her parents reported her seizures stopped after her first dose of cannabis oil. Charlotte came out of her catatonic state and met her parents for the first time. CNN featured Charlotte and documented her story. Some parents have turned to medical marijuana to treat their children of the incapacitating epilepsy. Doctors are attributing the drug with reducing seizure activity and bringing alleviation to epileptics. According to an article written by K. Pickert (2014), an innovative clinical trial is about to commence. This clinical trial may finally afford some science to support their assertions...
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...Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder John Mooney 412 Psychology Dr. Jim Spencer West Virginia State University 4 May 2012 Abstract Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a developmental disorder that is believed to affect about 3 to 5 percent of children globally and diagnosed in about 2 to 16 percent of school aged children (National Institute of Mental Health). Also, 30 to 50 percent of those diagnosed will continue having symptoms into adulthood and it is estimated that 4.7 percent of American adults live with AD/HD (NIMH). Although most healthcare providers accept AD/HD as a genuine disorder, there still remains controversy regarding diagnosis and treatment which is being debated in the scientific community. Although it found controversy in the lack of sufficient data on long-term use of medications, the US National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) supports the validity of the AD/HD diagnosis and the efficacy of stimulant treatment. Introduction Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is becoming the highlight of many controversial debates. Each year more children as well as adults are being diagnosed with these medical conditions. Despite the fact that many doctors question the authenticity behind its diagnoses, AD/HD can have a negative effect not only on the patients themselves, but to the families and loved ones who have to endure the behavior produced by the patients. According to the Diagnostic and statistical manual...
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...Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been a controversial topic due to its’ causes, diagnosis, as well as the treatments. Some critics of this controversy deny the very existence of ADHD as a mental disorder and believe that the physicians along with pharmaceutical industry are conspired with one another just to fill their pockets. While others believe that not only ADHD is a genetic mental disorder but also a disorder that may be caused by the environmental factors like geographical location, parenting and diet. Furthermore, many studies show that ADHD is in fact a mental disorder that affects many children and adults. ADHD is not over diagnosed and needs to be treated, however the treatment should not consist...
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...experienced many phases in attempt to provide affordable benefits to patients in need of different services. With similar advancements in consideration, President Bush attempted to enact a significant affordable program for prescription drug coverage. Predictions of this healthcare agenda in partnership with the Medicare Modernization Act supported assistance that would cover a widespread of qualified beneficiaries in the U.S. However, as a result of the legislation, controversies arose affecting the decisions of patients as well as providers. The following document illustrates provisions of the health bill policy and formulated opinions by researchers. In a 2003 CNN web article, shortly after Congress began proposals for the new Medicare reform, writers introduced stipulations of the form including its successes and failings. Supporters of the policy made predictions claiming that $400 billion provided by the Medicare Modernization Act would accommodate the nation’s 40 million citizens to purchase medication. In this aspect, the policy leaked an advantage for older Americans having capabilities for better coverage options through Medicare and also more control over services provided to them. In detail, 75% of costs would be paid up to $2,250. Recipients of the program would be required to pay $35 monthly with a $250 deductible for prescriptions. Subsidies would be provided to private insurers to compete with traditional Medicare to cut down the costs of prescription drugs...
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...A life with ADHD Imagine. You are trying to get an assignment done for either school or work. You know you need to get it done and you know you can do it. But it seems like your mind keeps wandering off and you soon realize that you’ve wasted hours that could have been used to finish the assignment. You try to get back into focus, yet your mind wanders again, and again until soon you have to rush to get it done, and risk doing it poorly, if you get it done at all. Unfortunately, this is just one of many scenarios for people who have grown up and are living with ADHD. But what is ADHD? Well, to start, ADHD is short for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD is a psychiatric disorder and is characterized by either significant difficulties of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsiveness or a combination of two. There are three subtypes of the disorder which consist of it being predominantly inattentive, predominately hyperactive-impulsive, or the two combined. It is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting three to five percent of children worldwide, all starting before the age of seven. ADHD impacts school-aged children and results in restlessness, acting impulsively, and lack of focus which impairs their ability to learn properly. My brother was diagnosed at a mere age of three years old. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to diagnose and many children are often misdiagnosed with either having it when they do not, or...
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...prescription of medication these children were receiving. Although many parents, doctors and teacher would say yes to medicating their children, I believe there are far too many risks for children with ADHD, ADD or BIPOLAR to be medicated and to medicate is merely a matter of a doctor option. Parent’s first option was medication and as one parent stated “not one of the doctors suggested an alternative to the medications.” (Frontline, 2001) ADHD, ADD or BIPOLAR medication have damaging mental and physical side effects include: psychosis, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, aggressive behavior, depression and social withdrawal. The physical side effects of these medications are tics, nausea, weight loss or gain and possible liver damage. Dr. Biederman along with his colleagues published their findings, there has been a 4,000 percent increased in the number of children being diagnosed with bipolar. One of the four children in the documentary the father of DJ Koontz stated “the family does not know long term effects.” DJ’s child psychiatrist Dr. Patrick Bacon believes he’s bipolar, but there’s no definitive test for any psychiatric illness. The parents were interview in the film, they explain their difficult situation. They are not enthusiastic about the medication, but they don’t see any alternative because of DJ’s rages last have a day, and his self-harming behavior. As child psychiatrist Dr. Patrick Bacon states in the film. “It’s really to some extent an experiment, trying medications in these...
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