Online ISSN: 2325-7466
2006
Triannual
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
United States

Articles

International Perspectives on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison of Teachers in the United States and Sweden

Steven Carlson, William Frankenberger, Kristina M. Hall, Sara J. Totten, Katarina House
  • Steven Carlson (Author) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire image/svg+xml
  • William Frankenberger (Author) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  • Kristina M. Hall (Author) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  • Sara J. Totten (Author) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  • Katarina House (Author) Eau Claire School District
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.12
Abstract
A total of 157 general education elementary classroom teachers in the United States and 116 general education elementary classroom teachers in Sweden were sent surveys assessing how teachers in the United States and Sweden (1) view the use of stimulant medication to treat ADHD behaviors in children, (2) attribute the causes of ADHD behaviors, and (3) rate the acceptability of various interventions used to treat ADHD behaviors. Compared to Swedish teachers, U.S. teachers indicated that more children in their classrooms were diagnosed with ADHD and received stimulant medications to treat ADHD behaviors. Regarding causation, both groups believed that ADHD behaviors could have environmental and genetic causes. Teachers from both countries agreed that lacking basic academic skills could be a cause of inattention in the classroom. Although Swedish and U.S. teachers reported similar beliefs about the causation of ADHD behaviors, Swedish teachers viewed stimulant medication in a significantly more negative manner. In addition, a majority of Swedish teachers preferred an intervention package that did not include stimulant medication.
Keywords
Foreign Countries, Behavior Problems, Intervention, Children, Environmental Influences, Elementary School Teachers
References

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed. text revision). Washington, DC: Author. Barkley, R.A. (1998, Sept.). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Scientific American.

Barry, L.M. & Messer, J.J. (2003). A practical application of self-management for students diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 5, 238-248. Bäsen, A. (2000, October 10). Dagens Medicin, 41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007030050040701

Bolanos, C.A., Barrot, M, Berton, O, Wallace-Black, D, Nestler, E.J. (2003). Methylphenidate treatment during pre-and periadolescence alters behavioral responses to emotional stimuli at adulthood. Biological Psychiatry, 54(12), 1317-1329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00570-5

Brandon, C.L., Marinelli, M., Baker, L.K., White, F.J. (2001). Enhanced reactivity and vulnerability to cocaine following methylphenidate treatment in adolescent rats. Neuropsychopharmacology, 25(5), 651-661. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0893-133X(01)00281-0

Brandon, C., & Steiner, H. (2003). Repeated methylphenidate treatment in adolescent rats alters gene regulation in the striatum. European Journal of Neuroscience,18(6):1584. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02892.x

Carlezon, W.A.jr., Mague, S.D., Andersen, S.L. (2003). Enduring behavioral effects of early exposure to methylphenidate in rats. Biological Psychiatry, 54(12), 1330-1337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.08.020

Carlson, S. (2003). International perspectives regarding ADHD and stimulant treatment: U.S. and Swedish teacher samples. Unpublished master s thesis, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Chase, T., Brown, R., Carrey, N., & Wilkinson, M. Daily methylphenidate administration attenuates c-fos expression in the striatum of prepubertal rats. Neuroreport. 2003; 14(5): 769-772. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-200304150-00022

Doherty, S., Frankenberger, W., Fuhrer, R., & Snider, V. (2000). Children s self reported effects of stimulant medication. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 47, 39-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/103491200116129

Frankenberger, W., Farmer, C., Parker, L., & Cermak, J. (2001). The use of stimulant medication for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A national survey of school psychologists knowledge, attitudes, and experience. Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, 29, 132-151.

Frankenberger, W., Lozar, B., & Dallas, P. (1990). The use of stimulant medication to treat attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in elementary school children. Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, 18, 1-13.

Garland, E. J. (2004). Facing the evidence: antidepressant treatment in children and adolescents.

CMAJ, 170, (4). Retrieved Jan. 14, 2005 from www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/170/4/ Gillberg, C. (1997). Central nervous system stimulants to hyperactive children? Time to soften up the attitude towards an efficient treatment. Lakartidningen, 94 (23), 2161-2162.

Jerome, L., Gordon, M.G., & Hustler, P. (1994). A comparison of U.S. and Canadian teachers knowledge and attitudes towards attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 39, 563-567. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/070674379403900909

Landgren, M., Kjellmen, B., & Gillberg, C. (1998). Attention deficit disorder with developmental coordination disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 79, 207-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.79.3.207

Larsson, J. (2002, January 13). Letter to International Narcotics Control Board (INCB): the use of central stimulants for medical purposes in Sweden. Hassela Nordic Network, Retrieved July 17, 2003, from http:/www.hnnnsweden.com/0002/01jan2002/02jan-005.htm

LeFever, G. Dawson, K., & Morrow, A. (1999). The extent of drug therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children in public schools. U.S. Journal of Public Health, 89, 1359-1364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.89.9.1359

Leo, J., & Cohen, D. (2003). Broken brains or flawed studies? A critical review of ADHD neuroimaging research. The Journal of Mind and Behavior, 24(1), 29-56.

Liu, C., Robin, A. L., Brenner, S., & Eastman, J. (2004). Social acceptability of methylphenidate and behavior modifications for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics, 88, 560-565. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.88.3.560

Medical Products Agency (2003). Retrieved December 5, 2003, from http://www.mpa.se/eng/index.shtml

Moline, S. & Frankenberger, W. (2001). Use of stimulant medication for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A survey of middle and high school students attitudes. Psychology in the Schools, 38, 569-584. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.1044

MTA Cooperative Group (2004). National institute of mental health multimodal treatment study of ADHD follow up: Changes in effectiveness and growth after the end of treatment. Pediatrics, 113, 762-770. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.113.4.762

Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD Cooperative Group. (1999). A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56,1088-1096. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.56.12.1088

Musser, C., Ahmann, P., Theye, F., Mundt, P., Broste, S., Mueller-Rizner, N. (1998). Stimulant use and the potential for abuse in Wisconsin as reported by school administrators and longitudinally followed children. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 19 (3), 187-192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00004703-199806000-00006

National Institutes of Health. (1998). NIH consensus report. Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Nov. 16-18. 16, 1-37.

Pelham, W.E., Gnagy, E.M., Greiner, A.R., Hoza, B., Hinshaw, S.P., Swanson, J.M., et.al. (2000). Behavioral versus behavioral and pharmacological treatment in ADHD children attending a summer treatment program. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28(6), 507-525. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005127030251

Peloquin, L. & Korman, R. (1986). Effects of methylphenidate on normal children s mood, event-related potentials, and performance in memory scanning and vigilance. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95(1), 88-98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-843X.95.1.88

Reschly, D.K., Tilly, W.D., III & Grimes, J.P. (1999). Special education in transition: Functional assessment and noncategorical programming. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.

Rowland, A.S., Umbach, D.M., Stallone, L., Naftel, A.J., Bohlig, E.M., & Sandler, D.P. (2002). Prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder among elementary school children in Johnston County, North Carolina. American Journal of Public Health, 92(2), 231-234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.92.2.231

Sinha, G. (2005). Training the brain: Cognitive therapy as an alternative to ADHD drugs. Scientific American, 293, 22-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0705-22

Snider, V., Busch, T., & Arrowood, L. (2003). Teacher knowledge of stimulant medication and ADHD. Remedial and Special Education, 24(1), 46-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/074193250302400105

U.S. Pharmacist Continuing Education. (2000). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and the rise in methylphenidate use (ACPE Program No. 430-000-00-054-H01). [On-line continuing education course].

Warden, S. J., Robling, A. G., Sanders, M. S., Bliziotes, M. M., & Turner, C. H. (2005). Inhibition of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) reduces bone accrual during growth. Endocrinology, 146, 685-693. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1259

Weber, K., Frankenberger, W. & Heilman, K (1992). The effects of Ritalin on the academic achievement of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Developmental Disability Bulletin, 20(2), 49-68.

Wilkinson, G. B., Taylor, P., & Holt, J. R. (2002). Bipolar disorder in adolescence: Diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 24, 348-358.

Zametkin, A.J., Nordahl, T.E., Gross, M., King, A.C., Semple, W.E., Rumsey, et al. (1990). Cerebral glucose metabolism in adults with hyperactivity of childhood onset. New England Journal of Medicine, 323(20), 1361-1367. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199011153232001

Zito, .M., Safer, D.J., dosReis, S., Gardener, J.F., Boles, M., & Lynch, F. (2000).Trends in prescribing of psychotropic medications to preschoolers. Journal of the American Medical Association, 283, 1025-1030. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.8.1025

Reprinted with permission from The International Journal of Special Education, Volume 21, 2006.

There are 37 references in total.
How to Cite
Carlson, S., Frankenberger, W., Hall, K. M., Totten, S. J., & House, K. (2006). International Perspectives on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison of Teachers in the United States and Sweden. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 1(2), 107-121. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.12

Summer 2006

Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted May 19, 2006
  • Published June 15, 2006
  • Issue Summer 2006
  • Section Articles
  • File Downloads 0
  • Abstract Views 0
  • Altmetrics
  • Share
Download data is not yet available.