Parental stress a factor in ADHD diagnosis

http://www.healthsentinel.com/org_ne...st_item&id=075

Roman Bystrianyk, "Parental stress a factor in ADHD diagnosis", Health
Sentinel, January 24, 2006,

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is the most
frequently diagnosed behavioral disorder in children. The diagnosis
affects approximately 3 to 5% of school children or approximately 2
million children in the United States. A large number of children with
ADHD, 40-60%, are also diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
(ODD) and/or Conduct Disorder (CD).

The DSM-IV, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used
most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and
internationally. The criteria and classification system of the DSM are
based on the opinion of people who represent American mental health
specialists. According to the DSM-IV the diagnosis for ADHD requires
the symptoms to be pervasive and occur in two or more situations, such
as home and school.

However, the agreement between parent and teacher ratings of
children's behavior is low. In fact, recent research has shown
substantial variation in the description of ADHD subtypes depending on
the source - parent or teacher - of the diagnosis. A 2003 study
showed that the hyperactivity ratings of parents contained a large
"84%" of source variance. Unfortunately, studies examining the
association between factors affecting parents and ADHD rating are
scares. Key factors that are believed to have an effect on a parent's
perception of ADHD are depression and stress.

According to previous research some have theorized that, "the
depressed mood of caregivers creates a negative bias in their
descriptions of the child's functioning." Still other researchers
have theorized that, "caregiver-child interactions might alter due to
the caregiver's depressed mood, causing behavior problems that might
not have existed otherwise."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "many other
factors such as parental stress or a changing family environment may
influence the child's symptoms."

A study in Behaviour Research and Therapy, examined 65 children (58
boys and 7 girls) that had been diagnosed with ADHD. Of the 65
children, 34 were determined to have ODD as well. The study was to
examine the agreement of parents and teachers in ADHD symptoms and
examine the association between parenting stress and depressed mood on
these symptoms.

The authors found that, "our analyses showed that, consistent with
previous studies, parents and teachers do not fully agree. Especially
for hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, agreement between parents and
teachers was low." They also found that parenting stress and not
depressed mood, "to be systematically and significantly associated
between agreement raters of inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive and
oppositional behavior."

The study noted that teachers are just as susceptible as parents to
depression and stress. Therefore, teacher ADHD ratings are subject to
the "same sort of bias" as parents.

The authors conclude that, "our data suggest that for the assessment
of ADHD and ODD symptoms it is important to also assess the emotional
well-being of the informant, as this significantly and systematically
is related to their ratings. More important than assessing depressed
mood, it seems important to assess caregivers' parenting stress
levels because parenting stress is more strongly related to informant
agreement. It may be argued from the present results that parenting
stress measures should be added to standard diagnostic procedures with
behaviorally disordered children."

SOURCE: Behaviour Research and Therapy, Article in Press

I have said this before and I will say it again. It bears a thousand
repeats. When the parent is on a stimulant (Anti-depressants the most
used) but also all behavioral drugs, xanax, buspar, depakote, marijuana,
cocaine, kava kava, st johns wort, etc. etc. etc. those drugs have an
uncanny ability to transfer harm to someone close in relationship, friend or
family. the most common form being crohns or US. but ADHD also. And
they do not have to be in each others presence for the second person to be
affected, they can be miles apart. There is a mind/body connection,
literally that transmits the harm from the stimulant user to the second or
third party. The findings in "Parental stress a factor in ADHD diagnosis'
is correct.
I have witnessed this phenomenom many, many times, and wish it was a known
and proven fact that stimulants are harmful in addition to some of the good
they do. ADHD can be removed if the parent ceases the drug or transfers
to a true tranquillizer like Valium or Ativam. So underhanded does this
malady work, that no one can detect it. But it will continue to be an
increasing problem until the medical profession will recognize that
stimulants do damage to another person, tho it may not be scientific. It
is as true as true can be. Many people suffer needlessly and do not even
know the source of their suffering. When will it be noticed that the
source is not medical, but the treatments become medical.
Gail Michael
"Roman Bystrianyk" wrote in message
ups.com...

http://www.healthsentinel.com/org_ne...t_list_item&id
=075

Roman Bystrianyk, "Parental stress a factor in ADHD diagnosis", Health
Sentinel, January 24, 2006,

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is the most
frequently diagnosed behavioral disorder in children. The diagnosis
affects approximately 3 to 5% of school children or approximately 2
million children in the United States. A large number of children with
ADHD, 40-60%, are also diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
(ODD) and/or Conduct Disorder (CD).

The DSM-IV, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used
most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and
internationally. The criteria and classification system of the DSM are
based on the opinion of people who represent American mental health
specialists. According to the DSM-IV the diagnosis for ADHD requires
the symptoms to be pervasive and occur in two or more situations, such
as home and school.

However, the agreement between parent and teacher ratings of
children's behavior is low. In fact, recent research has shown
substantial variation in the description of ADHD subtypes depending on
the source - parent or teacher - of the diagnosis. A 2003 study
showed that the hyperactivity ratings of parents contained a large
"84%" of source variance. Unfortunately, studies examining the
association between factors affecting parents and ADHD rating are
scares. Key factors that are believed to have an effect on a parent's
perception of ADHD are depression and stress.

According to previous research some have theorized that, "the
depressed mood of caregivers creates a negative bias in their
descriptions of the child's functioning." Still other researchers
have theorized that, "caregiver-child interactions might alter due to
the caregiver's depressed mood, causing behavior problems that might
not have existed otherwise."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "many other
factors such as parental stress or a changing family environment may
influence the child's symptoms."

A study in Behaviour Research and Therapy, examined 65 children (58
boys and 7 girls) that had been diagnosed with ADHD. Of the 65
children, 34 were determined to have ODD as well. The study was to
examine the agreement of parents and teachers in ADHD symptoms and
examine the association between parenting stress and depressed mood on
these symptoms.

The authors found that, "our analyses showed that, consistent with
previous studies, parents and teachers do not fully agree. Especially
for hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, agreement between parents and
teachers was low." They also found that parenting stress and not
depressed mood, "to be systematically and significantly associated
between agreement raters of inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive and
oppositional behavior."

The study noted that teachers are just as susceptible as parents to
depression and stress. Therefore, teacher ADHD ratings are subject to
the "same sort of bias" as parents.

The authors conclude that, "our data suggest that for the assessment
of ADHD and ODD symptoms it is important to also assess the emotional
well-being of the informant, as this significantly and systematically
is related to their ratings. More important than assessing depressed
mood, it seems important to assess caregivers' parenting stress
levels because parenting stress is more strongly related to informant
agreement. It may be argued from the present results that parenting
stress measures should be added to standard diagnostic procedures with
behaviorally disordered children."

SOURCE: Behaviour Research and Therapy, Article in Press