International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology
Open Access

Abstract

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children: A Move towards Developmental Perspectives

Olusegun Emmanuel Afolabi

The debate about diagnoses and treatment of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in children continue to range on between the developmental and biological perspectives. While there is increasing evidence that support the biological susceptibility of ADHD, a number of researches also emphasized the significant effect of environmental factors on the syndrome. This study used developmental perspectives to evaluate and bring together various bio-psychosocial factors that impact on development of children diagnosed with ADHD. To achieve this the study critically explored and integrated the existing and advancing study on ADHD to a more refined pattern that embraced developmental perspectives by organizing into sections; the clinical and social factors that associated with children diagnosed with ADHD. Also the study discussed how linkage in childhood ADHD fits within a developmental psychopathology perspective. Finally, the study revealed ADHD as a developmental disorder influenced by prenatal, biological and psychosocial environmental risk factors, and that better understanding of genomic susceptibilities, family environment, parental characteristics, and children's experiences can transform the pathway for its development in children