Treating ADHD in Children

Jeremy's Psychological Disorder

Jeremy is an eight-year-old boy who is having problems both at school and at home. The parents at home or teachers in school cannot succeed in instructing him to do any specific thing. Furthermore, he loses his homework and shows other signs of disorderliness. In Jeremy's life, disorganization is part of him. It is evidently hard to take care or treat him. This is a sign of disease and uncomfortable living. From the symptoms identified, it is likely that he is suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). In this paper, Jeremy's case is discussed in relation to ADHD: possible ways of treatment using the four psychological schools of thought are also identified.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

This disorder affects the psychological stability of individuals and alters the way they face the world and handle their lives. The disorder mainly affects children at their young age. As they grow, the situation becomes complex. Once a child is suspected to be having this disease, immediate attention should be taken to remedy the situation. In this remedy case, care should be taken to ensure that there is no delay since as the child grows; it might prove more difficult to address the problem. Symptoms of this disorder show up much earlier in the lives of the children (Gallagher, Abikoff, Spira, 2014). One symptom is the easy loss of memory from the patient. Memory is always sharp in a young child but ends up being rendered obsolete as time and growth take place. Another symptom includes disorderliness. Children who suffer from ADHD are cannot keep all their work in order. Often at times, these children will fail to keep track of their belongings including clothing and books while in school. All these symptoms are what Jeremy face in his life.

Treatment of Jeremy's case

From the four psychological schools of thought, Jeremy's case can be addressed. These four schools of thought include the following: Behavioral, Humanistic, Cognitive, and Psychodynamic. These four theories contain answers on how to diagnose and treat this disorder (Barlow, 2011). They are theories meant to be used to understand the problems that cause discomfort and problems to patients with ADHD. With these theories, one can know the exact problems ailing the patients. The extent of damage that has occurred will also be known using these theories.

The Behavioral theory

Behavioral theory is also referred to as the Behaviorism school of thought. In this school of thought, it is believed that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. It suggests that through conditioning, it is possible for people to copy behaviors unconsciously. In relation to Jeremy's case, it is likely that the environment that he was brought up in contributed to his condition. From this, it will require that he be taken to an environment where he will be able live differently. It is an appropriate assessment tool showing how parents bring up their children. For this theory to be used, it will require that the parents realize the importance of upbringing learns to practice positive upbringing (Gallagher, Abikoff, Spira, 2014).

Humanistic theory

Humanist psychological theory suggests that human needs of goodness dictate behaviors. According to the proponents of this theory, the desire for people to have the goodness in their life will influence their behavior and habits. Behaviors are intrinsic traits but influenced and shaped by the environment surrounding a person's upbringing. While treating Jeremy, this school of thought can be invoked. For instance, focus will be on what he loves doing without being pushed. From this, an ample environment is provided in a form and a way that will enable him to grow out of the situation (Ross, 2014). If well used, the method will be sufficient for treating the patient. Humanistic theory also works well for adults with psychological problems. People who have difficulties dealing with their problems can best be made to fall on the track by giving them their desires. They will be able to cope well when treated under such circumstances. For the sake of making the treatment work, effort should be put to please the individual facing the problem after studying and availing the niceties that he or she prefers (Barlow, 2011).

Cognitive theories

Cognitive theories spell that human beings are most pleased by focusing on what motivates them as well as any other internal states such as decision-making, thinking, and attention. These needs have to be satisfied so that the life of a psychologically ill person can be transformed positively. In the case of Jeremy, the medical therapist should establish what the boy likes most. This will take significant time to study. The support of parents would have ideally been helpful in learning this. However, medical ethics does not allow this. Under the 'dual relationship' concept, people who are related to the patient should not form a treatment partnership with the doctor (Veatch, 2010).

Ideally, the psychologist will to carry on the duty of learning the patient individually and finally prescribe a treatment regime. Therefore, Jeremy will be subjected to a lifestyle that will most likely motivate him and inspire more creativity from within. The carrot policy of enticement will be applicable, in this case. Children have many things that motivate them. For instance, if promised toys of other interesting items he likes in exchange for his cooperation in class and at home, Jeremy will likely buy into the enticement. This has to be done continually until it becomes a way of life for him. Even when the enticement will be withdrawn in the future, the boy will still live the same good lifestyle that he newly acquired (Gallagher, Abikoff, Spira, 2014).

Psychodynamic theory

This theory seeks to explain people's decisions in terms of conscious and unconscious traits. For instance, people who are in psychological turmoil can be diagnosed by looking at the factors that might have contributed to their plight consciously or unconsciously. For those mentioned as having had a conscious incident affecting them, the best therapy will be to subject them to counseling. For the others who would have encountered an unconscious disturbance, alleviating their suffering will be through conditioned correctional lifestyle. Jeremy will have to be diagnosed for either of this, but most likely, he will fall into the unconscious ailment category. At age eight, he is too young to have had an encounter that might have consciously affected him (Ross, 2014).