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Yanira Kpeli
Professor Douglas
Eng 112-78
September 18, 2014

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder
ADHD is most common in children and could continue up to adulthood. People
with ADHD find it hard to pay attention or stay focused, control behavior, and have
hyperactivity. The articles read are from 2010 from behavioral disorders. One author
believes ADHD is not biological, but it is caused by psychiatric drugs. In the second
article, the author speaks about the biological causes of ADHD and the studies proving
it.
In the article Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder Has Biological Causes, the
author goes into detail about a new study researchers use called, Large Deformation
Diffeomorphic Mapping (LDDMM). This study allowed them to examine the precise
shape of the basal ganglia. The author first introduced LDMM and then went on to
explain how it compares to prior studies and the difference in results. Previous studies
provided conflicting analysis as to whether ADHD is biological or not while LDDMM
gives researchers a more detailed analysis. LDDMM allows researchers to examine the
shape of the basal ganglia. The author provided in the article quotes from doctors in the
field along with sources from the American Journal of Psychiatry, which gives strength
to the article. Because of all of the research conclusions included in the article readers

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would trust that they are providing accurate and useful information. The article
demonstrates both sides of the issues.
The second article, Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactive Disorder Is Not a Biological
Disease, by Fred Baughman speaks of psychiatric drugs being the cause of ADHD.
Baughman states, claims that medications normalize brain function are a lie promoted
by pharmaceutical companies. The article includes information regarding studies done
with MRI, but not the new study (LDDMM) which has proven to be more precise. The
author provides plenty of facts; for example, information from published magazines as
well as statements from doctors, Christine Phillips, In the case of ADHD, there has
been a complex, often heated debate in the public domain about the verity of the illness.
He did not provide results from test to prove this theory right. The article was organized,
it explain how the FDA influenced people from 1948-2006 to believe that people with
psychological problems must have a disease and should partake of medical
intervention. Due to the lack of evidence from researches the article does not seem
credible or reliable.
The first author was more effective in fulfilling his/her intention because it
provided details about researches and studies completed for ADHD. There were also
comparisons between prior studies, results and their methods versus the new studies
known as LDDMM. The second study has more statements from doctors while the first
one has facts from studies. The first article says that though research isnt always
accurate new studies are being done to better diagnose and treat patients in this day
and age as well as in the future. For this reason the first article appeals more to its
audience.

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Work Cited:
"Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Has Biological Causes." Behavioral Disorders.
Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints.
Rpt. from "Novel Imaging Technique Reveals Brain Abnormalities That May Play
Key Role in ADHD." NewsRx Health. 2008. 160. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.

Baughman, Fred. "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Is Not a Biological Disease."

Behavioral Disorders. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010.
Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "There Is No Such Things As a Psychiatric
Disorder/Disease/Chemical Imbalance." PLoS Medicine 3 (July 2006): 11891190. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.