ALMOST NO CHILDREN IN FRANCE ARE MEDICATED FOR ADHD:

[Anonymous]

MY DD posted this on her facebook saying she wishes US did this..... I don't think its a good idea what do you think?
She was without her medication for about 30 days in 7th grade and it didn't work out so well...She went back on her medication after that..

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/10/28/almost-no-children-in-france-are-medicated-for-adhd-heres-how-they-define-treat-it/

[Anonymous]

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 11% of American children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as of 2011. However, if you ask the American Psychiatric Association (APA), they maintain that even though only 5% of American children suffer from the disorder, the diagnosis is actually given to around 15% of American children. This number has been steadily rising, jumping from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007.


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Big Pharma has played a significant role in manufacturing the ADHD epidemic in the U.S., convincing parents and doctors that ADHD is a common problem amongst children and one that should be medicated. However, many countries disagree with the American stance on ADHD, so much so that they have entirely different structures for defining, diagnosing, and treating it. For example, the percentage of children in France that have been diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than 0.5%. This is largely because French doctors don’t consider ADHD a biological disorder with biological causes, but rather a medical condition caused by psycho-social and situational factors.

Why France Defines ADHD Differently

French child psychiatrists use a different system than American psychiatrists to classify emotional problems in childhood. Instead of using the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the French use an alternative classification system produced by the French Federation of Psychiatry called Classification Française des Troubles Mentaux de L’Enfant et de L’Adolescent (CFTMEA). Not only does this significantly differ from the APA’s system, but it was actually created with the intention to “offer French child psychiatrists an alternative to DSM-III” because it didn’t complement French psychiatric practices. The CFTMEA encourages psychiatrists to identify the underlying issues that cause a child’s symptoms and to address them using a psychopathological approach.

France defines ADHD as a sociological disorder that’s caused by a set of social situations, whereas the U.S. sees ADHD as a neurological disorder whose symptoms are the result of biological disfunction or a chemical imbalance in the brain. France’s definition of ADHD drastically differs from that of the U.S., which is in part because the pharmaceutical industry helped define ADHD in the U.S. (you can read more about that here). France’s treatment methods, therefore, also greatly differ from those practiced in the U.S.

Treatment Methods for ADHD Used in France

Once a French psychiatrist diagnoses their patient with ADHD, they hone in on the behavioural problems by searching for the underlying causes. Psychiatrists will study the child’s distress and compare it to their social situations. France views ADHD as a social context problem; therefore, ADHD is often treated with psychotherapy or even family counselling. Very rarely do French psychiatrists prescribe medications to treat ADHD, as it’s usually rendered unnecessary after taking a more holistic approach.

It’s important to note that French psychiatrists also consider a patient’s diet when searching for the causes of behavioural symptoms associated with ADHD. Poor eating habits such as consuming foods with artificial colours or flavourings, preservatives, sugars, and/or allergens may worsen a child’s behaviour. This isn’t difficult to imagine; even as adults we can feel the effects certain foods have on our mood, energy levels, and thought processes.

[Anonymous]

I'm French, and let me tell you, French psychiatric care is not good and the public school system offers scant accommodations for such disorders. They are WAY behind the US and some other developed countries in the application of established research. For example, ADHD has been conclusively demonstrated to be a neurological issue, NOT a sociological disorder. That has significant impact on the way it is treated!

We are an ADHD family. My son in the US is the only member of the family to have been thoroughly evaluated and successfully treated, both medically and through other means. My teen nephews in France, with glaring ADHD symptoms, have never been correctly evaluated because public information is so poor and the stigma is still so prevalent that my ILs don't even want to go there. They have of course never been treated, except that one nephew's processing speed was so low that he was offered 30% more time on his all-important high school exam, the French Baccalaureat. By comparison, my son gets 50% more time here, as well as a slew of other accommodations and services, which he seriously needs.

The US leads the world in customizing care for individuals, and in this case, children with special needs, who are guaranteed accommodations and services under the IDEA law.

This is not to say that the US is perfect! Its weaknesses are the lack of universal healthcare and it's horrendously expensive medical treatment.

[Anonymous]

Last I heard psychoanalysis was a frequent treatment for autism in France. Enough said.

[Anonymous]

They also likely have a different educational path, much like it was here 30+ years ago. Drop out of school, go to a trade, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MY DD posted this on her facebook saying she wishes US did this..... I don't think its a good idea what do you think?
She was without her medication for about 30 days in 7th grade and it didn't work out so well...She went back on her medication after that..

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/10/28/almost-no-children-in-france-are-medicated-for-adhd-heres-how-they-define-treat-it/

Already a thread, many times in fact: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/310462.page#3641983

You and your DD are stupid for posting crap on FB.

[Anonymous]

I have noticed that it seems like a lot of kids are on psych meds here in the DC area. It seems like more than other places we lived. Almost like it's a thing here. Don't blast me, I just have wondered about it.

[jsteele]

Please join the existing thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/310462.page