Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a medical disorder of the brain that is basically characterized by a continuous sequence of hyperactivity-impulsivity or inattention or both that tamper with the overall functioning and development of the brain (Fisher " Dulapa, 2013). The most common symptom of this disorder is hyperactivity-impulsivity, however, some people with this disorder experience both inattention and hyperactivity concurrently. This disorder has no proven cure with the only available remedy being treatments to reduce the symptoms and help boost functioning and development (Fisher " Dulapa, 2013). There is no particular or distinct medical test that can be used to diagnose this type of disorder in both adults and children. The attention deficit/hyperactive disorder is identified and diagnosed after one shows several or all the signs and symptoms of the disorder on a continuous and regular basis for up to and more than six months. The past several months have seen a clear development of a trend in the diagnoses of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A study conducted by a group of specialists in the medical field led by Dr. Susanna N. Visser, the new trend showed a general rise in the number of children being diagnosed with ADHD as compared to the previous years with the disorder also being diagnosed at a relatively earlier age (Getahun et. Al., 2013). This essay will review, analyze, and address this trend of the increase in the ADHD diagnoses.
Increase in ADHD diagnoses
This considerable rise in the diagnoses of the disorder has been lauded by certain quarters of the relevant stakeholders as good news, arguing that physicians and other related medical specialists are making the right steps towards achieving effectiveness in the ADHD detection and diagnoses (Voelker, 2014). This is credited to the fact that, with the increase in the diagnoses of the disorder, more awareness has been created, thus, making it easier to diagnose and less stigmatizing (Getahun et. Al., 2013). Moreover, this trend will ensure that more young children benefit from the behavioral therapy that is initiated first upon the detection of the disorder as opposed to the previous years where the rate of diagnosis was very low.
Factors contributing to the rise in diagnoses
Several studies have, in effect, been conducted to try and determine the reasons and factors behind the rise in the number of diagnosed ADHD casesDHHHH. Statistics show that in the 1980s, only one in 20 kids in the United States were diagnosed with ADHD, a figure that has risen to one in approximately 9 children (Voelker, 2014). A recent study has established up to five factors that relatively contribute to this trend. One of the factors associated with this trend is the rise in the marketing efforts of medication companies that have aimed at creating awareness of the disorder and directly addressing the physicians as well as the physicians. The US psychiatry style that mainly focuses on the biological treatments of psychological and mental disorders and that widely spread to other parts of the world is also another factor that has caused the trend (Rodríguez et. Al., 2016). This is because of the increase in the number of foreign US trained psychiatrist all over different parts of the world. Another significant contributor to this trend is the rise in the number of the patient advocacy groups. This phenomenon was primarily based in the United States but has recently spread to other parts of the world and is structured to provide special aid and information to individuals who have a few symptoms of the disorder.
Another factor that has been attributed to this trend of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the global spread of the US definition and understanding of ADHD. The diagnosis model and structure that has been in use in the United States is much more effective and reliable as compared to the one used in other countries which is much narrower in its diagnoses of the disorder (Getahun et. Al., 2013). However, the US model has considerably gained prominence in the international markets, hence, leading to the increase in the number of diagnoses worldwide. The research also mentions the internet as one of the contributors to this growing trend related to the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Through the internet, more people are enlightened about ADHD than ever before and are relatively capable of identifying or detecting the symptoms of the disorder long before visiting a physician (Thapar " Cooper, 2016). As a result, the number of diagnoses of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has significantly increased.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this trend in ADHD, showing an increase in the number of diagnoses of the disorder is very important and beneficial to the people who suffer from the disorder as well as other relevant stakeholders. With the increase in the number of diagnoses, more awareness is created, hence, making more people detect the condition much earlier and initiate the relevant medical procedures to counter it as shown in the discussions above. Furthermore, the physicians and other related medical specialists will be able to expand their knowledge with respect to the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and, hence, help in finding better solutions and remedies for the problem.
References
Fisher, B. C., " Dulapa, K. H. (2013). What you think ADD/ADHD is, it isn't: Symptoms and neuropsychological testing through time. Boca Raton: CRC Press/Taylor " Francis.
Getahun, D., Jacobsen, S. J., Fassett, M. J., Chen, W., Demissie, K., " Rhoads, G. G. (2013). Recent trends in childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. JAMA Pediatrics, 167(3), 282.
Rodríguez, C., González-Castro, P., Cueli, M., Areces, D., " González-Pienda, J. A. (2016). Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis: An activation-executive model. Frontiers in Psychology, 7 doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01406
Thapar, A., " Cooper, M. (2015;2016;). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Lancet, 387(10024), 1240-1250. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00238-X
Voelker, R. (2014). Steep increase in ADHD diagnoses. Jama, 311(6), 565-565. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.244
