To Medicate or Not to Medicate? The Decision‐making Process of Western Australian Parents Following Their Child’s Diagnosis with an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

This article examines the decision‐making processes that Western Australian parents utilise when deciding whether to medicate or not to medicate their child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Thirty‐three parents (five fathers and 28 mothers) from a wide range of socio‐economic status suburbs in Perth, Western Australia were interviewed. A grounded theory of “doing right by my child” emerged from the data. In seeking to be doing right by their child, parents move through the three distinct stages of grieving, cynicism, and proactive parenting. During the grieving process, parents come to terms with their child’s diagnosis. The grieving process comprises seven sub‐stages—those of denying the diagnosis, seeking alternative treatments, venting anger, experiencing emotional turmoil, expressing remorse, feeling depressed, and reaching a guarded acceptance. Although their ease of traverse through each of these first six sub‐stages is largely dependent on the level of support they receive, the majority of parents eventually reach a guarded acceptance of their child’s diagnosis and confront the issue of whether or not to medicate their child. In Stage 2 parents express their cynicism about society’s dichotomous attitude towards ADHD and the use of medication as a treatment option, and in Stage 3 they adopt a proactive approach to their parenting.

Keywords:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis
• Decision‐making
• Medication
• Parents

Acknowledgement

This research was funded in part by a grant from the Australian Research Council.