Literature Review

Adolescent ADHD: Mind-altering Stimulants vs Holistic Psychotherapy

Kesha N Fitzhugh

Columbia Southern University

Adolescent ADHD: Stimulants vs Psychotherapy

The Topic

The ongoing controversy surrounding the ongoing controversy around the young and vulnerable most affected by this growing debate of nonpharmacological vs psychopharmacological treatments used for treating ADHD. Whether it impacts the brain negatively and or causes more good than harm in adolescents is up for debate through literature, studies, subjective experiences and societal/educational factors and barriers. While neither side advocates strongly for intersectional cohesion, ADHD is situational at best, when rendering treatment. Research aims to inform and educate the public on the possible side effects of stimulant medication, one can’t help but think if the motivation of the increase of adolescent ADHD diagnosis is directly related to a growing number of qualified care physicians properly treating youth or a growing problem of overly medicating and misdiagnosis to meet another agenda.

The Controversy

An increasing concern is that stimulants increase anxiety and should not be a first-line defense as an increasing number of adolescent children younger than six whom have been prescribed psychopharmacological drugs in treating adolescent ADHD. As research has proven, there are many layers to this diagnosis, especially in adolescents; as hyperactivity, profound genius or environmental factors all attribute to misdiagnosis or missing the actual symptoms that warrant intervention or evaluation. Further, since cognitive function is essential to a child’s ability to reason and think, the effectiveness of the safety of atypical antipsychotics and stimulant medications are questionable and challenging given the circumstance.

Pro Side of the Controversy

While there are inconsistencies about the effects stimulant medication can have on adolescents and their cognitive function, those who strongly advocate for stimulant medications predominant medications used to treat this disorder; stimulants, such as amphetamines and methylphenidate, which have a well-documented positive effectiveness in 70-80% of children according to Moore, G. (2012). Further, parents who participated in a study conducted by ConsumerReports.org stated parents reported that the extended-release formulations were "very helpful" with academic performance, behavior at school and home, and improved social relationships. Their preference to extended-release formulas was having complete autonomy in the distribution of their child’s medication, then to rely on the school; with 52% of parents strongly agreeing that medication was the best choice if they had to make the decision all over again.

Con Side of the Controversy

Advocates contend that stimulant prescription use in adolescents extend further that clinical symptoms such as gender (boys over girls), race (white over black) insurance (state over private) and lastly population (rural over urban) according to Drury & Gleason (2012), while adverse effects are at higher rates in younger kids due to the psychopharmacological agents. There are a myriad of concerns related to the correlation of early exposure to atypical antipsychotics and stimulant medications being connected to deficiencies in cognitive function, memory and neurotransmitters in the brain (Drury et al, 2012). Side effects children face when on stimulant medication, such as decreased appetite (consistent side effect amongst all stimulant types) and growth deficiencies are the most common. As one in five children are misdiagnosed with ADHD (Haelle, 2017), factors such as deficient behavior, biased assessments and emotional and learning disabilities can impact proper care during evaluation screenings (as cited by Tucker & Dixon, 2009).

Tentative Thesis Statement

Atypical antipsychotics and stimulant medications should continue to be under scrutiny when involving the cognitive development of adolescents. While the severity of symptoms will dictate the course of treatment; clinical care physicians, psychiatrists, and pediatricians alike should use first-line psychotherapeutic ministrations whenever possible.

References

Drury, S. S., & Gleason, M. M. (2012, March). A delicate brain: ethical and practical

considerations for the use of medications in very young children. Psychiatric Times, 29(3), 20.

Haelle, T. (2017, January). Recognizing giftedness: addressing kids' needs can be challenging.

Pediatric News, 51(1), 1+.

Moore, G. (2012, February 27). New guidelines for ADHD. Chain Drug Review, 34(4), 54.

Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication (2010). Consumer Reports. Retrieved from

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/01/the-pros-and-cons-of-treating-adhd-with-drugs/index.htm

Tucker, C., & Dixon, A. L. (2009, October). Low-income African American male youth with

ADHD symptoms in the United States: recommendations for clinical mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 31(4), 309+.