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Diagnosis of ADHD
The following motion was put forward by Jim Dobbin in the UK Parliament on January 15, 2014
"That this House notes the 10 fold increase over 10 years of labelling children with diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); further notes the pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for this condition are similar to cocaine, have numerous side effects including suicide, depression and anxiety and costs the health service tens of millions of pounds; affirms that there is no objective test to demonstrate the existence of this condition and that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has expressed deep concern about children being misdiagnosed with ADHD; strenuously opposes the unnecessary drugging of children; calls for rigorous control of the prescribing of psychoactive drugs to children; and further calls for NHS money currently spent on pharmaceutical drugs to be diverted into research into the dietary and environmental causes of the symptoms currently labelled as ADHD".
The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder: The Number of Diagnoses Soared Amid a 20-Year Drug Marketing Campaign
By Alan Schwarz for the New York Times on December 15, 2013
The rise of A.D.H.D. diagnoses and prescriptions for stimulants over the years coincided with a remarkably successful two-decade campaign by pharmaceutical companies to publicize the syndrome and promote the pills to doctors, educators and parents. With the children's market booming, the industry is now employing similar marketing techniques as it focuses on adult A.D.H.D., which could become even more profitable.
Biology and Genetics in DSM-5
By Colin A. Ross for Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, Vol 15 No 3 195-8, 2013.
The idea that DSM disorders are separate diseases with distinct pathophysiologies has now been disconfirmed by the DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Institutes of Mental Health. Commentary states there is no demonstrated physiological, genetic, or phenotypic specificity to the different DSM-5 disorders.
Video games and the depressed teenager
By Roni Caryn Rabin on January 11, 2014 for the Well
Children who were more impulsive and less comfortable with other children spent more time playing video games, the study found. Two years later, these heavy gamers, who played an average of 31 hours a week, compared with 19 hours a week for other students, were more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and social phobias.
Internet gaming addiction: Current perspectives
By Daria Kuss for Psychology Research and Behavior Management 2013; 6: 125-137
The holistic approach adopted here not only highlights empirical research that evidences neurobiologic correlates of Internet gaming addiction and the establishment of a preliminary diagnosis, but also emphasizes the necessity of an indepth understanding of the meaning, context, and practices associated with gaming.
Apptivity Seat for iPad
Manufacturer says: Insert and lock your iPad to this baby seat to "engage baby while protecting your device from baby's sticky fingers". Warning - this device places your child at risk for obesity, developmental delay, sleep disorder, aggression, self-regulation difficult, anxiety, depression, attention deficit, autism, learning disabilities, and poor school performance."
No Time to Think - documentary on technology addiction by Brian Huston
By Amy Wang on January 5, 2014 for the Oregonian
A Portland director's newest film, "No Time to Think," explores addiction to and obsession with new technologies and devices through the eyes of young people in treatment in Washington's ReStart Internet and Technology Addiction Recovery Program.
11 Things I wish every parent knew
By Dr. Stephen Cowan for MindBodyGreen on January 11, 2014
After 25 years practicing pediatrics, and caring for thousands of children, Dr. Stephen Cowan noticed some patterns that offered him a deeper vision of health. Here are some of those invaluable lessons.
How do e-books change the reading experience?
By Mohsin Hamid on December 31, 2013 for the New York Times
In the world of intrusive technology, we must engage in kind of a struggle if we wish to gain moments of solitude.
Are Apps becoming a human crutch?
By Katie Davis and Howard Gardner for the Seattle Times on January 7, 2014
A NEW suite of killer apps has arrived. These apps, which use predictive search technology, promise to answer questions before you ask them - or even before you know what those questions are.
NJ Public Schools to Require Social Media Classes
On January 10, 2014 for My Fox DCC
Facebook could soon become required reading for middle school students in New Jersey. A new bill would make a social media class mandatory for all sixth-through-eighth grade students in New Jersey Public Schools.
Video Games Do Affect Social Outcomes: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Effects of Violent and Prosocial Video Game Play
By Tobias Greitemeyer and Dirk O. Mugge for Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin; published online January 23, 2014
Data from 98 independent studies with 36,965 participants revealed that for both violent video games and prosocial video games, there was a significant association with social outcomes.
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