Throughout human history, psychiatric dysfunction in child and adolescent populations has been rare. However, over the last 2 decades, psychiatric diagnoses have reached epidemic proportions—particularly in the United States. Currently, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric illness in child and adolescent populations with an estimated 10–12 million children diagnosed in the United States. Over the last 2 decades, behavior patterns that were once perceived as typical, normative developmental stages have been systematically redefined by those promoting the mass labeling and drugging of children as a “chemical imbalance of the brain.” Grounded in bioevolutionary theory, this article will challenge the existing medical model and will explore in-depth the risks associated with the ADHD label and the use of stimulant medication in pediatric populations. In addition, this article will examine the cultural, physical, neurological, psychological, and social correlates as they relate to the diagnosis of ADHD in America.
Economic burden of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among adults in the United States: a societal perspective
