Medical Ethics

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the relationship between drugs, children and behavioral control. The paper provides an exploratory analysis of the literature currently available with regard to the clinical utility of using stimulant medication to treat children with ADHD. The researcher concludes that more studies are necessary to determine whether children would benefit more from behavioral interventions than from medication treatment.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Background
Current Situational Analysis
Recommendation
Conclusions
References

From the Paper:

"During the early 1980s the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 1994) amended the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for evaluating children with ADHD suggesting that impulsivity and hyper motility were criteria for diagnosing this condition in children (Brogstedt et al, 1998). Borgstedt et al (1998) note that this revision came about resulting from evidence that children with these characteristics often faced problems with associative learning and other deficits that might be addressed through use of stimulant drugs. In the years following mixed results occurred when therapists or health care providers attempted to evaluate the potential benefits of using stimulant medication as a priority or front line treatment for children with ADHD. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Psychiatric Association (1994). "Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 4th ed." Washington, DC: APA.
• Borgstedt, A.D., Brumaghim, J.T., Klorman, R. & Smithee, J.A. (1998).
• "Methylphenidate does not modify the impact of response frequency or stimulus sequence on performance and event-related potentials of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26(4):233.
• Fine, S., Freeman, W.S., Johnston, C., Weiss, J.. & Weiss, M. (2000). "Effects of stimulant medication treatment on mothers' and children's attributions for the behavior or children with ADHD." Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28(4): 371.
• Grigg, W.N. (2003, Aug). "Drugging our kids: Despite the risks posed by drugs such as Ritalin schools are threatening parents with child abuse charges if they drug their children." The New American, 19(17)12.

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APA Citation:

MLA Citation: