Do you think every child should get tested for adhd clinical depression and bipolar?

Question

I feel like it's so common and also people go throughout their lives not being diagnosed and just having to suffer through it that it would be easier just to know if you are or aren't from the get-go and then you can do whatever you need to do to keep it in control. Thoughts?

tony72722 · Accepted Answer

Yeah. I wish I was diagnosed with ADD sooner in my life. Things would probably be much different today. I always thought I was stupid and that's what people thought about me. Just always forgetting shit.. couldn't stay on one task at a time.

When I went into the military and took the ASVAB (Military Aptitude Test) I scored a 97 which is like the highest you can score. My recruiter SGT Doyle was expected a 30 lol. Was a huge WTF for me. That and a confidence boost. I ended up getting out early with a MED SEP but when I got out I went to college couldn't do it man. Couldn't finish a semester. Finally got diagnosed and it changed my life entirely. Learned how to work around it. Started taking adderall. I'm a second year engineering student now and my GPA just skyrocketed to a 3.8 because I just recently finished finals. My family.. everyone that knows me.. is utterly shocked lol.

I don't think teachers should be diagnosing teenagers though. I think that is wrong and they are not trained to do so. I think they should be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or specialist. Teachers look for an easy way out when they have a troubled student. They pass it out like candy. I think that is just ethically wrong. A lot of these teenagers don't need it. I ACTUALLY do and all these other guys are making it look like I'm taking the easy way out by studying with drugs.

dartmaul15 · Accepted Answer

no, no, and no.

Especially ADHD is n overused diagnosis nowadays, especially in the states. It's all too often used to drug down troublesome kids. Kids are MEANT to be full of energy, so this won't do them any good.
So they use it to drug the kids down to make them "behave" at school.

As for clinical depression. Solve the fucking problem, isntead of drug away the fucking symptom! You don't get clinical depression over nothing. So drugging them won't solve a fucking thing! Figure what caused said depression in the first place, and fix THAT instead!

TL:DR fix the real fucking problems, instead of just drugging away the symptoms

Melirain · Accepted Answer

It's hard to say. You don't want to over-medicate or over-diagnose kids who don't actually have these issues, but you also don't want kids to go untreated.
I've always had ADHD, but didn't realize it until I went to get tested in college. In retrospect it did make life and academics a little harder, but I don't think being ignorant of it really did me any harm. If it had been more severe, though, or if I hadn't learned to cope with some of it on my own, it could have effected my chances of getting into college. I think the same can be said of depression--it may be okay to miss a mild form, but more severe or worsening depression can impact a kid in the future. So maybe everyone should have this testing done or check in with a psychologist once every couple of years--but at the same time, maybe the requirements for being diagnosed should be raised a little bit, so kids aren't misdiagnosed as frequently. A lot of kids are hyper or forgetful, after all, and it doesn't mean they *all* have ADHD.

Kaylove96 · Accepted Answer

My dad has bipolar disorder, and I don't know when he got diagnosed with it, but I must have been 11 or 12 when I got diagnosed. And eversince I've been taking Lithium which is the worst but all the psychiatrists keep trying to force me to take it. If it wasn't for the Lithium then I wouldn't have certain problems I have now, like hypothyroidism and a stupid endocrinologist and thyroid pill because of it. And my adult psychiatrist doesn't even listen to me.

RachelBrigs · Answer

No, because it isn't common enough to warrant that.
No, because the age of onset varies greatly and one could "pass" at 11 and be severely mentally ill by 18.
No, because it could lead to more children being put on meds they don't need.
No, because the whole issue of "who pays for the stupid test and who's gonna do it" thing

I do think though that parents need to monitor their childrens behaviors more and see if anything is standing out.

Accipiter · Answer

Absolutely not!

Big pharma and psychiatrists rake in billions exploiting the non conforming personalities of children by prescribing mind altering drugs due to their non conforming behaviors. Teachers, doctors and parents somehow think it's ok to roll the dice with a developing child's brain because the child isn't keeping up with the class, won't sit still, or just behaving different. So let's say they give this kid a mind altering stimulant, anti depressant, or anti psychotic, then later on the kid has side affects which the doctors prescribe more drugs to combat, and the next thing you know this child is taking a cocktail of mind altering medication daily. There are harmful lomg term consequences like dependency, withdrawal, headaches, mood swings, hypertension, and permanent brain damage for giving children psychotropic meds.

Good god what a sick society we live in

nakedalligator · Answer

No I do not, because it is something that is just given as a diagnosis to be able to push the drugs that go with it. I would much prefer that children that have this kind of problem where treated drug free with methods and skills that help them deal with life more effectively.

GirlsLie · Answer

I think almost every child i've ever met under the age of 8 has adhd...

I mean obviously if something is extremely noticeable but i'm sort of against giving children medication so early, you never know how it will impact them in the long run. Plus they give out medicine like candy these days.

iamwoot · Answer

No. They're not that common. Teachers are trained now to recognize symptoms of ADHD and refer those childrens' parents to proper treatment.

Depression and BPD (bipolar disorder) have an occurrence rate of about 6.7% and 2.6% respectively. And these numbers are way too low to warrant mass testing, not to mention these disorders can occur and different points in a person's life. Some people with MDD (major depressive disorder) or BPD don't exhibit symptoms until well into their adult lives.

Anonymous · Answer

no because honestly doctors these day hand out medications for anything and I don't think medications should be handed out to everyone because they're feeling sad. Some people do actually need it, but people these days are just walking around drugged up.

LalaLoopsíe · Answer

ADHD, certainly. Not sure about MDD or or bipolar disorder though, since those illnesses usually become more apparent in late adolescence and early adulthood.

peachblossomluck · Answer

Can it be detected that early? I was showing signs of clinical depression and bipolar as early as 15 as I recall but how can it show up in a child?

GreatnessPersonified · Answer

Most bipolar sufferers get it from 16-30, so they are not children. Also, sometimes, I think ADHD is just people's misunderstanding of the child's very unique way of learning.

blondfrog · Answer

Nah cause those things can't develop until you get older and children are gonna be hyper that's in their nature.

ArtDent · Answer

I think every child should be tested for narcissistic personality disorder

SIGguy · Answer

Not unless you suspect they have it. The symptoms of any mental disorder usually don't manifest until late in the child's life.

jakeofalltrades · Answer

no that is to young to start stringing them out on drugs for the rest of their life

Anonymous · Answer

No, because then I would have no say in having who I am altered with drugs until I am deemed normal.

Entity · Answer

I think every human should be tested.

Anonymous · Answer

Helllllll yah

Do you think every child should get tested for adhd clinical depression and bipolar?

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Do you support Illinois implementing universal mental health screening for students grades 3-12?

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