The CDC reports that there is “no test for adhd” but rather is defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) as a “list of 6 symptoms in children, 5 in adults”, that have been grouped together to define behaviours characteristic of attention deficit. Research shows that overuse of screen content, in particular video games, have been implicated as associated factors for adhd. So how then do clinicians account for adhd associated with screen overuse/video games vs. adhd caused by other factors? In order to accurately diagnose any mental disorder, ‘screening for screens’ must be routinely performed as part of any clinician’s diagnostic procedure. As mental health diagnosis often leads to prescription of harmful psychotropic medications, even in very young children, prevention of mental health misdiagnosis is imperative. This article written by a pediatric occupational therapist questions the rising trend for adults to seek adhd diagnosis, as well as parents seeking adhd diagnosis and medication for their children and offers an alternative, screen usage assessment and treatment.
People who are addicted to screens are not receiving accurate diagnosis and help. Screen overuse is normative in today’s society and is condoned and even pushed by parents, teachers, employers and even clinicians. Self diagnosis is rampant and fuelled by the pharmaceutical industry and social media, but generally leads down a dangerous path toward harmful medications. Recent research is showing increased heart attack and stroke from prolonged use of stimulant medication for ADHD. When these medications are started young, the outcomes are worse.
There are numerous inherent harms that result from diagnosing behaviours such as attention deficit, and the diagnostic process itself is fraught with many challenges. When children are born, how their brain develops and subsequently who they become and how well they cope with the pressures of life, is primarily determined by the quality of care they receive from their parents. Children are not born mentally ill e.g. mental illness is not genetic, although it can be familial. For instance, a parent who suffered from mental illness is more likely to have a child who also has a mental illness as their parenting style was lacking in critical factors needed to raise mentally healthy children. Society’s role in the rise of mental illness is intrinsic to not adequately addressing family stressors which lead to child neglect, abuse, and trauma. The diagnostic and medication process by well meaning health professionals is short-term and unfortunately effectively deters families from dealing with long-term painful past memories through therapeutic initiatives. Mental heath diagnosis and prescribing medication becomes the ‘quick fix’ for dealing with life’s woes.
Adhd is not a disease and to date, when research accounts for normative epigenetic changes across a lifespan, there are no genetic, neural structural nor neural chemical markers found that would distinguish an adhd brain from a neural typical brain. Hence the development of a list of symptoms for attention deficit and other problematic behaviours. Lack of valid diagnostic criteria for adhd hasn’t stopped the pharmaceutical industry though from pushing the ‘adhd disease model’ heavily by giving physicians free stimulant medication samples, performing fraudulent research, and funding industry driven adhd support groups thru social media (to name a few).
Below are 4 reasons to NOT follow a diagnostic and medication model as a first line assessment and treatment mental illnesses such as adhd, but to instead employ routine ‘screening for screens’ as an integral part of behavioral diagnosis.
1. Screen overuse is not assessed nor treated. Clinicians rarely question their clients regarding screen usage, thus missing what might be the most important causal factor in their diagnostic process. Behaviours resulting from the screen overuse mimic many of the diagnoses found in the DSM, especially attention deficit. To prevent misdiagnosis, clinicians must be diligent in ‘screening for screens’ and in treating screen overuse and addiction if present, prior to diagnosing a mental illness. In 2010 I wrote an article titled “Unplug – Don’t Drug” which is published in a peer reviewed journal which highlights the propensity to misdiagnose screen overuse as a mental illness, and proceed with harmful prescription of psychotropic medications.
3. Labelling can be disabling. Studies show that most preschool children with symptoms of adhd who were diagnosed by pediatricians were not offered evidence-based behavioral treatment, but rather were prescribed medication as a first line intervention. As psychotropic medications are meant to be given for short durations (look at the black box), more long-term efficacy with therapeutic interventions are often ignored. Someone given medication as the only intervention for a mental illness will essentially never get bette
4. Psychotropic medications can be harmful. This 2020 study found that 81% of children who take aripiprazpole (prescribed for autism, conduct disorder) have serious side effects; 94.1% of children who take risperidone (prescribed for adhd, impulsive disorder, bipolar disorder) have serious side effects. 15% of children taking these drugs reported suicidal thoughts. Whether given to a child or an adult, there are serious consequences when altering the brain’s neural chemistry.
We really do need to unplug and don’t drug. If you are a clinician concerned about misdiagnosing screen addiction with your clients, please take a look at my three-day certification course in Balanced Technology Management. Instead of pathologizing humans, let’s focus on increasing engagement in healthy activities. Easier, cheaper and definitely more fun!
