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A discursive analysis concerning information on "ADHD" presented to parents by the National Institute of Mental Health (USA).
University West, Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, Division of Psychology and Organisation Studies. University West, Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, Division of Psychology, Pedagogy and Sociology.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4151-7976
University West, Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, Psychology and organization studies. (BUV)ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5360-8883
Gothenburg University, Department of Psychology, Gothenburg, Sweden..
2016 (English)In: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, ISSN 1748-2623, E-ISSN 1748-2631, Vol. 11, article id 30938Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

A discourse analysis was performed based on an online document under the headline: "What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD)?" published by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), USA. Three parts of the document were analysed: (1) The introductory part, as this sets the tone of the whole text. (2) Parts of the text that were specifically addressed to parents. (3) Etiology and pathology of "ADHD" with reference to a number of different symptoms and behaviors. Inattention and hyperactivity are presented in the document as a floating spectrum of symptoms caused by "ADHD." Other factors of importance for children's development, that is, early attachment, close relationships, previous experiences, culture, and contexts are ignored. Children who are perceived as inattentive and hyperactive are portrayed as having inherent difficulties with no reference to their emotions or efforts to communicate. The child is viewed as suffering from a lifelong disorder that might not be cured but controlled by a diagnosis and subsequent medication. Parents are advised to control their child's behavior and to strive for early diagnosis in order to receive treatment provided by experts. Those who are presented as experts rely on a biomedical model, and in the document, detailed descriptions of medication to correct the undesired behaviors are provided. The value of judgment in the assessment of different symptoms and behaviors that signifies "ADHD" is absent, rather taken-for-granted beliefs were identified throughout the document. A heterogeneous set of behaviors is solely described as a disorder and hereafter it is stressed that the same behaviors are caused by the disorder. In this manner, cause and effects of "ADHD" are intertwined through circular argumentation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. Vol. 11, article id 30938
National Category
Psychology (excluding Applied Psychology)
Research subject
SOCIAL SCIENCE, Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hv:diva-9307DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v11.30938ISI: 000375926500001PubMedID: 27052426Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84964380509OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hv-9307DiVA, id: diva2:918692
Available from: 2016-04-11 Created: 2016-04-11 Last updated: 2020-11-25Bibliographically approved

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Erlandsson, SolyLundin, Linda

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