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A disturbing trend

A June 23 review of recent books at The New York Review of Books begins with this startling observation:

It seems that Americans are in the midst of a raging epidemic of mental illness, at least as judged by the increase in the numbers treated for it. The tally of those who are so disabled by mental disorders that they qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) increased nearly two and a half times between 1987 and 2007—from one in 184 Americans to one in seventy-six. For children, the rise is even more startling—a thirty-five-fold increase in the same two decades. Mental illness is now the leading cause of disability in children, well ahead of physical disabilities like cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, for which the federal programs were created.

The review, entitled “The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?,” addresses three new works:

• The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth
• Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
• Unhinged: The Trouble with Psychiatry — A Doctor’s Revelations about a Profession in Crisis

‘Astonishing 46 %’ meet criteria

You’ll have to read the whole thing to decide whether these books might be useful to you or someone you’d like to help, but we’ll leave you with one more passage from the review, before more commentary on the same:

A large survey of randomly selected adults, sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and conducted between 2001 and 2003, found that an astonishing 46 percent met criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for having had at least one mental illness within four broad categories at some time in their lives. The categories were “anxiety disorders,” including, among other subcategories, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); “mood disorders,” including major depression and bipolar disorders; “impulse-control disorders,” including various behavioral problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and “substance use disorders,” including alcohol and drug abuse. Most met criteria for more than one diagnosis. Of a subgroup affected within the previous year, a third were under treatment—up from a fifth in a similar survey ten years earlier.

If any of this is close to the target, these are trends we can not ignore. The stats on children have to be particularly disturbing, even for the most hard-hearted among us.

Skepticism: ‘Researchers come up empty-handed’

However, what may be most disheartening for those whose loved ones suffer from these ailments is that all the modern hoo-haw about science and pharmacology might be just that: hoo-haw. Writing about the same three books, and the review itself, Jacob Sullum writes June 13 at Reason.com:

As those questions suggest, Angell seems to share the skepticism of the authors whose books she reviews: University of Hull psychologist Irving Kirsch, who in The Emperor’s New Drugs shows that antidepressants are only slightly more effective than placebos, so slightly that the difference may be attributable to stronger expectations of improvement primed by the drugs’ side effects; the journalist Robert Whitaker, who in Anatomy of an Epidemic argues that the “astonishing rise of mental illness in America” can be understood largely as an outgrowth of the desire to sell psychiatric drugs; and Daniel Carlat, a Boston psychiatrist who confesses his profession’s shortcomings in Unhinged: The Trouble With Psychiatry. Angell notes that “none of the three authors subscribes to the popular theory that mental illness is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.” She adds that “the main problem with the theory is that after decades of trying to prove it, researchers have still come up empty-handed.”

None of this can be comforting to anyone connected to a friend or loved one affected by mental illness. Imagine being stuck “in the system” trying to get SSI or SSDI benefits for someone so afflicted.

Delays in system back in the news

The system in general is infamous for its delays and backlog, although some announced efforts we’ve covered here have been targeted at reducing the wait times, which can linger from many months to years. Sadly, recent reports indicate those efforts are losing headway. According to a June 22 report in Baltimore City Paper:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) may be losing its battle against the backlog of disability cases, according to an analysis of its data by a New York-based nonprofit.

“In particular, the data show that while progress had initially been made, the hoped for reduction in backlogged matters ground to a halt in the last 12 months,” a report by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) says. “Since then the number of pending cases grew by 5 percent. More success has been achieved in reducing average wait times.”

We can help find an attorney

That’s good news about reducing wait times, but the backlogged cases is definitely not improvement. If you’re feeling “stuck in the system” after having trying to make a go of it by yourself, we understand. And we can help. Perhaps it’s time you reach out to a trained, experienced attorney who can guide you through the maze of federal bureaucracy. If so, please scroll down and, under the heading “Need Help With Your Disability Case?” please complete the online form to get a personal response to your case.

At the present time, ADHD is considered to be a chronic and persistent developmental disorder. Toxic exposure or trauma can contribute to ADHD which appears to be largely heritable.

Over the past decade more and more adults have been diagnosed with ADHD, although ADHD is usually diagnosed in children. About 60% of the children diagnosed with ADHD continue to have the developmental disorder as adults.

There is no medical cure at this time. ADHD is usually treated with a combination of behavior modifications, counseling, medications and life style changes. 

ADHD is not without controversy. There are those who question whether ADHD is a true impairment. In fact, there are those who question everything that is known about ADHD.

There are certain criteria which must be met in order for a person to be diagnosed with ADHD. It is set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), 4th edition. They have been created for research purposes. There are three types of ADHD.

They are:

     1. ADD, Combined Type: if both criteria I-A and I-B are met for the past 6 months

     2. ADHD Predominantly inattentive Type: if criterion I-A is met but criterion I-B is not met for the past six months

     3. ADD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: if Criterion I-B is met but Criterion I-A is not met for the past six months.

Three types of ADHD are classified based on the DSM-IV criteria listed below:

I. Either A or B:

A. Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

•          Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work or other activities.
•          Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
•          Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
•          Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
•          Often has trouble organizing activities.
•          Often avoids, dislikes or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
•          Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
•          Is often easily distracted.
•          Often forgetful in daily activities.

B. Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

•          Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
•          Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
•          Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
•          Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
•          Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”.
•          Often talks excessively.
•          Impulsiveness
•          Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
•          Often has trouble waiting one’s turn.
•          Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).

II. Some symptoms that cause impairment were present before age 7 years.

III. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school/work and at home).

IV. There must be clear evidence of significant impairment in social, school or work functioning.

V. The symptoms do not happen only during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia or other Psychotic Disorder. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder or a Personality Disorder).

     If you believe you or your child has ADHD, or if you or your child has been diagnosed as being ADHD, you may want to know if ADHD qualifies as a disability that will allow you to receive a disability benefit or Social Security disability benefit for you or your child. ADHD does qualify as a disability recognized by the Social Security Administration. Getting approved for a social Security Disability benefit or disability benefit on the basis of ADHD can be difficult. Part of the problem with being approved for a Social Security disability benefit or disability benefit based on this impairment has to do with the subjective nature of how Social Security evaluates ADHD.

     If you are seeking a Social Security disability benefit or disability benefit for you or your child based upon ADHD, the expert attorneys at SocialSecurityHome.com can aid you in receiving your benefits.