I chose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder because it is a widely discussed and argued topic among health professionals, especially on the topic of medications. There are large amounts of people who suffer from this illness, effecting their daily lives. ADHD is a chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity (WebMD). ADHD begins in childhood and normally lasts into adulthood. These symptoms cannot be cured, but they can be well managed. Many of my friends have ADHD and are given Adderall, Concerta, or other ADHD medications that treat ADHD and narcolepsy by acting as a stimulant. There have been numerous studies regarding these medications and whether children should be taking them. Some children experience uncomfortable or harmful side effects, such as sleeping problems, headaches, and a decreased appetite. The long-term effects are still being studied, so there is no way to know how these medications will affect your child in the future. It is very important to consider the non-medical factors while studying ADHD because race, cultural practices, and various other factors can affect the distribution of disease. In order to understand illness, you need to look at the biological and cultural aspects because disease occurs in all humans. Medical anthropologists would study ADHD differently than a doctor. Medical Anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that draws upon social, cultural, biological, and linguistic anthropology to better understand those factors which influence health and well being (broadly defined), the experience and distribution of illness, the prevention and treatment of sickness, healing processes, the social relations of therapy management, and the cultural importance and utilization of pluralistic medical systems (Society for Medical Anthropology). Doctors are there to diagnose and treat a patient. Medical anthropologists study human kind and the distribution of disease based on factors such as culture, race, environment, etc. A doctor would diagnose a person in their early childhood for ADHD and would look for symptoms such as the inability to focus and being overly active. The child in the photo above clearly can’t focus on his homework and might be brought in to the doctor to see why. If these symptoms are persistent, the doctor will establish the fact that this child has ADHD. The doctor would then prescribe ADHD medications like Adderall to act like a stimulant by increasing focus. This would be the only way to manage ADHD, since there is currently no cure. An anthropologist would treat this illness differently. They would look at every aspect with regard to humankind. Does one culture suffer from ADHD more than the other and why? Maybe there are some environmental factors that increase the chances of getting ADHD. Looking at the non-medical factors can provide another way of looking at certain illnesses that could be helpful for the future.
Sources:
"ADHD Overview Information, Definition, Facts, and More." WebMD. Accessed July 15, 2014.
"Society for Medical Anthropology." Society for Medical Anthropology. Accessed July 15, 2014.
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." NeuroFeedback BLOG. Accessed July 15, 2014.
Sources:
"ADHD Overview Information, Definition, Facts, and More." WebMD. Accessed July 15, 2014.
"Society for Medical Anthropology." Society for Medical Anthropology. Accessed July 15, 2014.
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." NeuroFeedback BLOG. Accessed July 15, 2014.