Session Information
04 SES 01 A, Construction of Differences
Paper Session
Contribution
Estimates of the worldwide prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is 5.29% and it has been suggested that geographic and cultural contexts are significant to the interpretation of child behaviour & mental health (Amaral, 2007). Scotland’s 5% diagnosis for ADHD has been identified as an under-estimate, but with considerable variation across Health Boards (NHS Scotland), while Australia’s estimated prevalence rates are at 11.2%, leading to anxiety about a tendency to over-diagnose. The relationship between poverty and disadvantage has been clearly established (Goodman and Gregg, 2010; Harwood, 2010). In South Australia the highest standardized medication rates are found in areas of predominantly lower SES and high unemployment (Prosser & Reid, 2009, p. 345) while in Scotland one in four persistently poor children (aged 3-4 and 5-6) are rated as having social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. (Barnes et al., 2010)
This paper reports on an exploratory study of the impact of the medicalisation of the behaviour of children living in disadvantaged contexts in Scotland and Australia. The study considered how children and young people are affected by diagnosis of behaviour and related disorders and how child and youth sector services are involved in diagnostic practices.
Method
Expected Outcomes
References
Amaral, O (2007) Psychiatric Disorders as Social Constructs: ADHD as a Case in Point. Letter to the Editor. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164, p1612 Deleuze, G & Guattari, F (1987) A thousand plateaus: capitalism and schizophrenia. London: The Athlone Press. Goodman, A. & Gregg, P. (2010). Poorer children's educational attainment: how important are attitudes to behaviour? Institute for Fiscal Studies. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Harwood, V. (2006). Diagnosing 'disorderly' children: A critique of behaviour disorder discourses. London: Routledge. Harwood, V. (2010). The new outsiders: ADHD and Disadvantage. In L. J. Graham (Ed.), (De)Constructing ADHD: Critical guidance for teachers and teacher educators. (119-142) New York: Peter Lang. Information Services Division, NHS Scotland (2009). CNS stimulants and other drugs used for Attention Deficit Hyperativity Disorder. Prosser, B & Reid, R (2009) Changes in use of psychostimulant medication in South Australia, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43(4).
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