Current scenario of diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in urban India: a pilot study
ISSN: 1361-9322
Article publication date: 12 August 2021
Issue publication date: 6 September 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The current literature on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) shows a tangled picture of its etiology and diagnosis. It directs at over-medicalization in ADHD cases due to the pharmaceutical-based models surrounding its treatment. Further, the authors observed the negligible reporting of India’s ADHD scenario in the reviewed literature. Thus, this study aims to explore the status of ADHD in India’s urban setting through a pilot study.
Design/methodology/approach
Social constructivist viewpoint guided this study. The authors conducted the pilot in two phases: face-to-face semi-structured qualitative interviews with 11 mental health professionals in the first phase, and, in the second phase, five mental health professionals responded to an online survey with same questions. After qualitative analysis, four major themes were identified: participants’ opinions on ADHD etiology, issues in diagnosis, social context of ADHD and alternatives to medication.
Findings
The findings highlight the need to re-visit the ADHD narrative in the Indian context. These findings also emphasize future investigation on the medicalization of ADHD in India.
Research limitations/implications
A countrywide epidemiological survey is required to explore the distribution of the disorder to standardize diagnosis and treatment procedures pan-India. This paper is an attempt to iron out the ADHD-related information that needs further exploration and research.
Originality/value
With in-depth interviews of mental health professionals, the study explores the state of ADHD in an urban setting in India. Future research must build on the current findings to establish the etiological and diagnostic framework of ADHD.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the mental health professionals who participated in their study and gave their valuable time and input. They would also like to thank Ms. Monalisa Anand from BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa campus, for transcribing the interviews. We also wish to extend our appreciation to our department and institute for providing us with access to various resources.Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.Conflict of interest: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Basu, S. and Banerjee, B. (2021), "Current scenario of diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in urban India: a pilot study", Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 298-314. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-03-2021-0018
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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