Advantage and Disadvantage of the Use of Medication in the Treatment of ADHD
Prescription medication is widely used to treat children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In some cases, medication can be highly effective and allow individuals to function normally in their daily life tasks. Critics argue that alternative methods and therapies should be used before turning to medication. Review some of the considerations of medication use in the following article:
National Resource Center on ADHD. (2015). Managing medication for children and adolescents with ADHD. https://chadd(dot)org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/managing_medication.pdf
Answer the following questions:
Discuss at least one advantage and one disadvantage of the use of medication in the treatment of ADHD.
Considerable research has been conducted on non-medication treatment approaches for illnesses like ADHD. For example, the following article examines a change in diet and nutrition as treatment.
Stobernack, T., de Vries, S. P. W., Rodrigues Pereira, R., Pelsser, L. M., Ter Braak, C. J. F., Aarts, E., van Baarlen, P., Kleerebezem, M., Frankena, K., & Hontelez, S. (2019). Biomarker research in ADHD: The impact of nutrition (BRAIN) - study protocol of an open-label trial to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of a few-foods diet on ADHD symptoms in children. BMJ Open, 9(11). https://doi-org(dot)libauth(dot)purdueglobal(dot)edu/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029422
Discuss possible alternative treatment approaches to ADHD (non-medication). Do you feel that these should be considered before medication is prescribed?
Unit 6 Journal: Abnormal Psychology
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Unit 6 Journal: Abnormal Psychology
Medication is important in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, studies show that most adults and children who take prescriptions for ADHD symptoms do not accredit their achievements to the pills but to themselves. Therefore, families and patients must consider the advantages and disadvantages of selecting medicine for an ADHD treatment plan (National Resource Center on ADHD, 2015). One benefit of prescribed ADHD medication is improved symptoms which gives a person the ability to function efficiently. On the other hand, drugs may have side effects such as lost sleep, reduced appetite, fatigue, negative mood, stomachaches, headaches, tics, and jittery. The trial and error method used to determine drugs may worsen the patient’s health rather than recover it (National Resource Center on ADHD, 2015). Generally, using medication to manage ADHD has pros and cons.
There are other alternate treatment tactics for ADHD other than medication. For instance, behavioral therapy, psycho-education, and a few foods diet (FFD). Research has shown that eliminating additives and some foods ...