"Mas, não tem um remedinho,não?": a medicalização da infância

Abstract

During psychological care provided in a children's clinic it was observed that many children are referred to the clinic with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This fact calls attention to the phenomenon defined as medicalization. Thus, some questions can be made: What would the medicalization phenomenon be? How are the diagnoses made? What are the implications of such diagnosis for the child and his/her family? In an attempt to contribute to the discussion of these questions, this work investigates the historical and social development of the medicalization phenomenon, examining its consequences in clinical practice and in childhood. For this purpose, a theoretical and conceptual study of medicalization of childhood will be made, examining some references in literature with a review of its most important aspects.