Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ritalin, and the Brain

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Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Ritalin, and the Brain

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly referred to as simply ADHD, is the most commonly diagnosed disorder among American children today. According to the National Institute on Mental Health an estimated 3 to 5 percent of school age children are affected by this disorder. (1) There are more diagnosed cases of ADHD of in the United States than there are anywhere in the world. The main symptoms of ADHD include "developmentally inappropriate levels of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility, and impulsivity." (1) While the number of people diagnosed with ADHD increases dramatically every year, there is still much about the disorder that is not understood. While scientists have deduced that ADHD originates in the brain, they still have many questions about the nature of it. The classification of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has become quite a controversial topic in American society today. There are some who believe that by recognizing the symptoms associated with the disorder as ADHD; science is simply putting a band-aid on a problem that could be otherwise corrected with behavior modification.

The lack of a complete understanding of ADHD has led scientists to question how to go about treating ADHD. While at the moment the disorder cannot be cured, they are methods that scientists have come up with to address the symptoms displayed by ADHD. These approaches range all the way from psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to the prescription of pyschostimulant medications. (3) The most popular of these medications include amphetamines, such as Aderall, and methylphenidates such as Ritalin. (1) The use of such drugs ...

... middle of paper ...

...(NICHCY)

http://%20www.children-special-needs.org/

3)Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Scientific American Online

http://www.sciam.com/missing.cfm

4) Methylphenidate (Ritalin), National Institute on Drug Abuse

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Ritalin.html

5) Ritalin: Prescribing Information, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/utils/notices/404.jsp?checked=y

6) The Hazards of Treating "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder" with Methylphenidate (Ritalin), The Journal of College Student Psychotherapy

http://www.bregin.com/methylphen.html

7) Information About ADD, Scientific American Online

http://www.sciam.com/missing.cfm

8) University At Buffalo Research on Long-Lasting Effects of Ritalin in Brain-Cell Function, Science Daily

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011112073546.htm

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