According to the American Psychiatric Association or APA, about 5% of American children suffer from ADHD. Worldwide, about 11% of children are afflicted with this condition.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a behavioral problem that affects children and teens. It's one of the most common mental disorders of children but could ADHD be a hoax?
Respected psychologist and Harvard University professor Jerome Kagan certainly thinks so. According to Kagan, there should be a shift in the ways that mental problems common among children are handled. He adds that instead of dulling children's senses with drugs, doctors should focus on discovering the reason why kids misbehave.
Jerome Kagan is a psychologist and professor at Harvard University. He was named as the 22nd most eminent psychologist of the 20th century. He has conducted extensive research on the cognitive and emotional development of children and has made claims that ADHD is an “invention” that doesn’t exist. He strongly believes that the disorder was constructed by pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. Essentially, ADHD is a “hoax”.
Kagan’s view has gained a lot of criticism from psychologists and other medical professionals. However, due to his professional background and expert knowledge in children’s cognitive development, he has continued to defend his viewpoint. He insists that there needs to be a shift in the ways that mental health issues, like ADHD, are handled.
“(ADHD) is an invention. Every child who’s not doing well in school is sent to see a pediatrician, and the pediatrician says: ‘It’s ADHD; here’s Ritalin.” – Jerome Kagan
Image courtesy of: Condition NYC
