What a day for a daydream (pass the Adderall)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLeGbDx_9eM In a recent “Toxicology Rounds” column in Emergency Medicine News, I pointed out that the American Psychiatry Association and the latest edition of its publication, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) have been expanding the criteria for diagnosing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Criterion “B” in DSM-IV requires that “some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms were present before age 7 years.” That same criterion in DSM-V reads: “Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present prior to age 12 years.” (Emphasis added.) A new group of kids who first become fidgety or misplace their cell phones (both listed as behavior supporting the diagnosis) between 7 and 11 will now potentially be diagnosed with ADHD, and may be treated with medication. Even with the earlier, more limited, definition, about one in nine children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and well over half of these have been treated with medications such as stimulants. Who knows how many more will qualify under the new criteria. But that’s not all! The New York Times reported this weekend that researchers and working to establish a whole new sub-type of ADHD, called “sluggish cognitive tempo.” One expert noted that symptoms of this disorder include daydreaming and skipping questions on tests. And of course the researchers suggest that such outrageous behavior can b...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder sluggish cognitive disorder Source Type: news