Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd ) - 853 Words

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, better known by its acronym as ADHD, is one of the â€Å"hot topics† constantly being discussed in today’s psychological field. Interestingly, the debate is on whether or not ADHD is a real mental disorder. The community is divided into two distinct groups. One group believes that ADHD is a real mental disorder and should be treated as such. Others, however, believe that ADHD isn’t a disorder at all, rather it is a ploy driven by the pharmaceutical companies in order to increase sales of stimulants such as Ritalin. Within this group there are also people who believe that ADHD itself is not a disorder, however, it is part of a larger malady, or a result of poor parenting or a sugar-rich diet. According†¦show more content†¦Those who dismiss ADHD respond to this argument with their idea that the symptoms could be of another disorder, or just â€Å"kids being kids†. Currently, there is no standardized medical test for ADHD, although researchers hope to eventually use magnetic resonance imaging, or other structural imaging technologies (Chaban Tannock, 2009). Early research indicates that children who suffer from this disorder often exhibit brain differences from their â€Å"normal† counterparts. One longitudinal study that followed children with ADHD over a ten year period discovered many of these differences. Researchers noted that children who were diagnosed with ADHD seemed to have brains that were 3-4% smaller than their counterparts (Chaban Tannock, 2009). Areas that were seen to be smaller were those that were involved in the processes of concentration, inhibition, impulse control, and motor activity (Chaban Tannock, 2009). Genetic evidence also supports the idea that ADHD is in fact, a disorder. For many years studies have shown that ADHD seems to run in families. One study suggested that ADHD’s heritability rate is around 60% (Kieling, 2008, p. 287).New advances in genetic studies support the idea that ADHD occurs due to a combination of genetic anomalies that affect the growth and development of different areas of the brain. In a study completed at Cardiff University in 2010, DNA samples