IS THE ADHD AN ILUSION? ALMOST NO CHILDREN IN FRANCE ARE MEDICATED FOR ADHD: HERE’S HOW THEY DEFINE & TREAT IT

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 11% of American children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as of 2011. However, if you ask the American Psychiatric Association (APA), they maintain that even though only 5% of American children suffer from the disorder, the diagnosis is actually given to around 15% of American children. This number has been steadily rising, jumping from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007.

Big Pharma has played a significant role in manufacturing the ADHD epidemic in the U.S., convincing parents and doctors that ADHD is a common problem amongst children and one that should be medicated. However, many countries disagree with the American stance on ADHD, so much so that they have entirely different structures for defining, diagnosing, and treating it. For example, the percentage of children in France that have been diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than 0.5%. This is largely because French doctors don’t consider ADHD a biological disorder with biological causes, but rather a medical condition caused by psycho-social and situational factors.



Why France Defines ADHD Differently
French child psychiatrists use a different system than American psychiatrists to classify emotional problems in childhood. Instead of using the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the French use an alternative classification system produced by the French Federation of Psychiatry called Classification Française des Troubles Mentaux de L’Enfant et de L’Adolescent (CFTMEA). Not only does this significantly differ from the APA’s system, but it was actually created with the intention to “offer French child psychiatrists an alternative to DSM-III’ because it didn’t compliment French psychiatric practices. The CFTMEA encourages psychiatrists to identify the underlying issues that cause a child’s symptoms and to address them using a psychopathological approach.

France defines ADHD as a sociological disorder that’s caused by a set of social situations, whereas the U.S. sees ADHD as a neurological disorder whose symptoms are the result of biological dysfunction or a chemical imbalance in the brain. France’s definition of ADHD drastically differs from that of the U.S., which is in part because the pharmaceutical industry helped define ADHD in the U.S. France’s treatment methods, therefore, also greatly differ from those practiced in the U.S.



Treatment Methods for ADHD Used in France
Once a French psychiatrist diagnoses their patient with ADHD, they hone in on the behavioural problems by searching for the underlying causes. Psychiatrists will study the child’s distress and compare it to their social situations. France views ADHD as a social context problem; therefore, ADHD is often treated with psychotherapy or even family counselling. Very rarely do French psychiatrists prescribe medications to treat ADHD, as it’s usually rendered unnecessary after taking a more holistic approach.

It’s important to note that French psychiatrists also consider a patient’s diet when searching for the causes of behavioural symptoms associated with ADHD. Poor eating habits such as consuming foods with artificial colours or flavourings, preservatives, sugars, and/or allergens may worsen a child’s behaviour. This isn’t difficult to imagine; even as adults we can feel the effects certain foods have on our mood, energy levels, and thought processes.

Why There Are Fewer ADHD Cases in France Than the U.S.
A study conducted in 2011 stated that the amount of youth in France with ADHD may be as low as 3.5% — a far cry from the 11 to 15% estimate in the United States. Family therapist and author of A Disease Called Childhood Why ADHD Became an American epidemic Dr. Marilyn Wedge suggests that this may be as a result of the cultural differences between the U.S. and France in regards to raising children. According to Wedge, French parents will often impose more structured lifestyles onto their children, such as enforcing strict meal times and using the “cry it out” method with babies and toddlers. Children are taught self-discipline at a young age, which is why Wedge feels they don’t need to be medicated for behavioural issues.



Unfortunately, spanking is not considered child abuse in France, so this practice is used fairly often to encourage discipline. In March 2015 the Council of Europe, an international human rights organization, faulted France over the country’s lack of legislation regarding corporal punishment of children. As The New York Times explained, “Child abuse is illegal in France and is punished with long prison sentences, but it is not uncommon for French parents to slap or spank children, or for the French courts to view such actions as acceptable under a customary ‘right to discipline.’

As Dr. Wedge points out (although neither she nor Collective Evolution support spanking or any other form of child abuse), this simply adds to the discipline they’re encouraged to practice throughout their childhood. While Wedge makes some interesting points regarding discipline, I don’t think that’s the underlying reason why most French children don’t need to be medicated for ADHD. Rather, because ADHD is largely a behavioural issue, it rarely requires pharmacological intervention. I believe that these treatment methods are successful in France not because of their parenting culture, but rather as a result of their holistic approach in considering diet and behavioural and social context.



I believe France does not have an issue with over-diagnosing ADHD in the same way the U.S. does because pharmaceutical companies have not targeted them as heavily. Pharmaceutical companies play a substantial role in defining ADHD and deciding treatment methods in the U.S. For example, doctors and researchers in the U.S. have been paid to overstate the dangers of ADHD and the benefits of taking their drugs and understate the negative side effects.

It’s easy for people to believe this misguided information when it’s affiliated with well-known universities like Harvard and Johns Hopkins. Many people don’t even realize that these studies are funded by the very companies that profit from the drugs’ sale because that relationship is hidden in small print. These drugs can have significant side effects and are actually considered to be within the same class as morphine and oxycodone due to their high risk of abuse and addiction. You can’t just blame all doctors, either; many of them genuinely believe they’re helping these children because of the information they’ve been given in these studies and by Big Pharma.

Another reason the U.S. has substantially higher rates of ADHD amongst children than France is because of the ADHD drug advertisements that run in the U.S. Big Pharma creates ads for ADHD drugs sold in the U.S. that are specifically targeted at parents, describing how these drugs can improve test scores and behaviour at home, among other false claims.
One of the most controversial ones was a 2009 ad for Intuniv, Shire’s A.D.H.D. treatment, which included a child in a monster costume taking off his terrifying mask to reveal his calm, smiling self with a text reading, “There’s a great kid in there.” The FDA has stepped in multiple times, sending pharmaceutical companies warning letters or even forcing them to take down their ads because they are false, misleading, and/or exaggerate the effects of their drugs. This type of propaganda doesn’t take place in France, at least not on the same scale as the in U.S., largely because it doesn’t coincide with their ADHD diagnosis framework. You can read more about this topic in another article I wrote.



How to Use This Information to More Effectively Treat ADHD
France’s CFTMEA, definition for ADHD, and holistic approach to treating this disorder provide an excellent example of how we should be addressing ADHD patients, especially children. Instead of getting to the root of these children’s “attention deficits” like French psychiatrists do, American health practitioners typically assume ADHD is a medical condition that can only be fixed with medication. This is not only unethical, but also clearly damaging to a child’s self-esteem. Many of these kids could simply be uninterested in the subject matter, suffering from some sort of emotional trauma, or even have heightened creativity and energy! You can’t just blame all doctors in the U.S., either; many of them genuinely believe they’re helping these children because of the information they’ve been given in these studies and by Big Pharma.

However, many scientists in the U.S. have suggested alternatives to medicine to treat ADHD and many of them don’t even recognize ADHD as a disorder Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and Editor-in-Chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report Daniel J. Carlat MD, criticized the DSM, stating, “In psychiatry, many diseases are treated equally well with medication or therapy, but the guidelines tend to be biased toward medication.”

Holistic Mental Health Practitioner Dr. Tyler Woods further explains:

The DSM tends to pathologized normal behaviors. For instance, the label “Anxiety Disorder” can be given as a result of some kinds of normal and rather healthy anxieties but the DSM will have experts view it and treat it as mental illness. In addition simple shyness can be seen and treated as “Social Phobia”, while spirited and strong willed children as “Oppositional Disorder”. Consequently, many psychotherapists, regardless of their theoretical orientations, tend to follow the DSM as instructed.



Neurologist Richard Saul spent his career examining patients who struggle with short attention spans and difficulty focusing. His extensive experience has led him to believe that ADHD isn’t actually a disorder, but rather an umbrella of symptoms that shouldn’t be considered a disease. Thus, Saul believes it shouldn’t be listed as a separate disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic & Statistical Manual.

Leading integrative pediatrician and author of ADHD without Drugs: A Guide to the Natural Care of Children with ADHD Dr. Sanford Newmark MD has spent more than 15 years studying and successfully treating ADHD naturally. Some of his recommendations include improved nutrition, increased sleep, iron, zinc, and Omega-3 supplementation, family counselling, making positive social and behavioural changes, and pursing alternative modalities such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Homeopathy. Dr. Newmark considers conventional medication a “last resort,” given the fact that ADHD drugs only work about 70% of the time and have potential negative side effects.



It is clear that many doctors are starting to recognize the importance of treating ADHD outside conventional methods. Misdiagnosis and over-diagnosis of ADHD is a serious issue in the U.S., one that is heavily fueled by the pharmaceutical industry. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ADHD, I strongly suggest you research this subject more and explore alternatives to medication with the help of a healthcare practitioner!

“The very vocabulary of psychiatry is now defined at all levels by the pharmaceutical industry.”

– Dr. Irwin Savodnik, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California in Los Angeles.

"If “Survivor” was actually real and had stakes worth caring about, it would be what happens here, and “The Sacred Science” hopefully is merely one in a long line of exciting endeavors from this group." - Billy Okeefe, McClatchy Tribune.
SOURCE: KALEE BROWN

Psychological Therapy or Medication: ADHD and our Children

Children need less medication and more Therapy. Three-quarters of young children with ADHD are receiving medication, but only half are getting therapy

Government health officials are using medical providers to refer parents of preschoolers who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, to therapy sessions rather that turning first to medication.
What is ADHD?

"The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral syndrome, is a disorder characterized by moderate behavior, distraction to severe, periods of brief attention, restlessness, emotional instability and impulsive behaviors. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder most often diagnosed in children, 4 always start in childhood, persists into adulthood in a high percentage of cases and usually causes a very negative impact on multiple areas of operation. Has a very high response to treatment, but is associated with high rates of psychiatry comorbidity.



According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV): "Usually, symptoms worsen in situations that require attention or effort sustained mental or who lack intrinsic appeal or novelty (p. eg., listening to the teacher in class, do homework, listen to or read long texts that are not on your tastes, or work in monotonous or repetitive tasks) ". Historically, this disorder has received different characterizations and innumerable denominations, which makes difficult the consultations of the especializada5 literature (see deficit hyperactivity disorder') is widely used to refer to this syndrome".

The recommendation, issued recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, comes alongside a dispatch in the agency's monthly report, called Vital Signs, that shows 75 percent of children ages 2 to 5 with ADHD are already taking medication. Among the concerns is that drugs that treat the condition can cause side effects like irritability and difficulty sleeping and can curb hunger, stunting growth. Further, researchers don't know what the long-term effects of these medicines are for children in this group.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offered similar guidance in 2011, saying medical providers should refer parents to training in behavior therapy before turning to medication. About a third of the 6.4 million children who have the condition, which causes children to be overly active and impulsive and to have difficulty concentrating, are diagnosed before age 6. At that point, symptoms can be very severe, and only half of the children who are diagnosed are receiving recommended behavioral therapy.



But Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director for the CDC, said in a call with reporters that this type of therapy could be as effective as medication.

“We recognize that these are not easy treatment decisions for parents to make,” she said, alluding to the fact that this type of treatment takes more time that medication.

Behavior therapy programs can occur over the course of eight or more sessions, and therapists teach parents how to give their children their full attention and reflect words back to them so their children know they are listening and care about what they have to say. They learn how to praise their children when they do something right and how to set up and follow routines.

"It's like having your own personal coach for dealing with challenging conditions," Dr. Georgina Peacock, director of the CDC’s division of human development and disability, said during the call.

The Vital Signs report analyzed health care claims data from at least 5 million young children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are insured by Medicaid, which is funded by the government, from 2008 to 2011. It also looks at an additional 1 million who were covered by health insurance that employers pay for, from 2008 to 2014. Though it found the same rates of medication prescriptions among both groups, it found that 54 percent of children on Medicaid received psychological services each year, while 45 percent of children with private plans did.



These numbers did not increase over time, and the different rates, between the two groups likely occurs, because not all private health insurance companies will cover behavioral therapy as Medicaid typically does.

The CDC stopped short of saying that young children should never be medicated for ADHD, adding that decision was for parents and doctors and that medication may sometimes be appropriate. With behavioral therapy, however, it's possible that some children may never need medication for ADHD, Peacock said.

Source: Kimberly Leonard

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