Ritalin Debate: Some Experts Doubt Existence of ADHD

Cybercast News Service (CNSNews.com) ^ | April 18, 2003 | Patrick Goodenough

[HEY4QDEMS]

I usually get a remark about me screen name about every three or four months.

When I signed up I was instructed not to use profanity in my handle.

Luckily they let it slide, I'm sure someday some DU troll might hit the abuse button and blow my cover.

[PISANO]

Our society has excused virtually all bad behaviour as some sort of malady that requires medication, understanding and out right acceptance.

[Al B.]

What double-blind experiments?

[Lazamataz]

The problem is that for some folks (such as will soon be crowding this thread), ADD is primarily an ideological issue. As such, its reality must be denied or minimized.

Sad.

Kinda as if they were ideologically opposed to recognizing the existance of breast cancer, or clinical depression, or whatever else.

I can tell you this, I am hugely and positively effected by ritalin, although I may be going over to another compound shortly. People who have been around me immediately notice a great improvement in my concentration and ability to comprehend verbal instructions when I have been properly medicated. An ADD diagnosis has improved my life beyond measure.

If the naysayers cannot ideologically handle it, joke 'em if they cannot take a f___.

[Lazamataz]

What double-blind experiments?

Ask my doctor, he showed me some literature on the topic prior to prescribing. I was, naturally, very leery of taking any medication at the time.

[r9etb]

My stepson has been diagnosed with ADHD. One interesting bit of info: Once something has his attention, he only focuses on that one thing...everything else is blocked-out completely.

A doctor described this to me as follows: ADHD is not an inability to concentrate; rather, it's an inability to suppress the impulse to concentrate on more interesting things. For interesting stuff, there's no impulse to focus on something else -- indeed, the impulse is to block out everything else.

For dull stuff (such as schoolwork), the impulse is always to focus on something more interesting. The impulsive behavior is moderated by the uptake of dopamine into the brain. Stimulants allow this to happen, which is why they are used to treat ADHD.

As it happens, a little bit of ADHD isn't necessarily bad -- it spurs creativity, and is apparently very common among very bright people. But it can get to the point where it's impossible to focus on anything at all -- in which case mediction helps.

[Corin Stormhands]

DUH! Parents today are just weenies - trying to "befriend" their darlings and afraid to be parents!

That's an ignorant statement. I'm a parent of a son with ADHD, and I can assure you we are not afraid to parent.

"Hyper" as you describe your son and ADHD are not necessarily the same. Some is behavioral. Some is not.

Too many kids are medicated who should not be. But the fact is, some kids need it.

[US admirer]

Anecdotal evidence is not derived from double blinded experiments. There are five levels of scientific evidence that are generally accepted in the community of research trialists. Level 5 is anecdotal evidence based on a case report. Level 1 evidence is derived from placebo controlled double blinded randomized controlled trials. Please site your reference for double blinded controlled trials.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

It exists.

Unfortunately however, the lack of (ADHD-related) knowledge on the part of many parents, who in turn could educate others as well as ensure that their children were receiving whatever help they needed; and medication is not typically recommended as the first line of treatment, nor is it EVER supposed to be used as the only treatment; and WHY they need it, helps promote the 'stigma' often surrounding the issue.

[Al B.]

BS. There is no such thing as a double-blind experiment that confirms the existence of ADD/ADHD.

ADD/ADHD is a psychiatric disorder. This means that its existence is confirmed purely by subjective citeria.

[Lazamataz]

Actually, to help you in finding the research in question, I think it involved the use of those machines used to measure brain activity. Normal and ADD people were given ritalin and the researchers compared brain wave activities.

Normal people taking ritalin had disruptions, but ADD people taking ritalin had modifications that got their 'brainprints' looking quite similar to normal people's.

Ritalin stimulates one particular area in the brain that is underutilized in ADD people. If there is no need for the ritalin, it does not concentrate there but instead causes a general stimulant effect to the entire brain. This is why normal people get an amphetamine result from taking ritalin, and ADD people do not.

[r9etb]

What double-blind experiments?

Look here for a few papers on dopamine uptake and ADHD.

[r9etb]

ADD/ADHD is a psychiatric disorder. This means that its existence is confirmed purely by subjective citeria.

You're wrong. You appear to be one of those who opposes the existence of ADD/ADHD on ideological grounds. Why?

[Lazamataz]

ADD/ADHD is a psychiatric disorder. This means that its existence is confirmed purely by subjective citeria.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I do know what the doctor showed me. And I do know it helps me, personally.

This is an "ideological" malady, inasmuch as certain people will insist -- loudly, and often with flecks of spittle on the sides of their mouth -- that this which affects me, does not.

Luckily, the medical community will ignore the ideologically extremist on this issue, and continue treating me for a malady that -- at least in my life -- is 100% real.

[Lazamataz]

That link appears to have some of the brain images the good doctor showed me.

You are right about the rabid ideological opposition to treatment of this (very real) malady. I guess I feel a little sympathy towards the Prozac crowd, now, since they get the same treatment.

Ah well. The naysayers are in the vast minority, and it is a very good thing, too.

[Johnny Gage]

stress management, identification of "triggers" of the symptoms....

From personal experience, I can tell you that the various forms of Dyslexia can mimick ADD/ADHD as well.

When a child with Dyslexia suffers "disorientation" they often exhibit lack of attentiveness...day dreaming.. pencil tapping, etc.

For more links you can check out my profile page for information on Dyslexia, as well as info on the possible link between Sleep Apnea and ADD behavior as well.

[John Lenin]

How about the link of Ritalin use to high school massacres ? The kid in San Diego who shot a few kids was taking Ritalin and I thought I read an article that linked a couple of other shootings to Ritalin use.

[Lazamataz]

and medication is not typically recommended as the first line of treatment

Good point. And I am sure ADD is overdiagnosed among children. Certainly ritalin is overperscribed among children as well.

However, those who deny the existance of ADD sound like they would also deny the existance of clinical depression.

[Al B.]

You appear to be one of those who opposes the existence of ADD/ADHD on ideological grounds.

Baloney. Although the behaviors associated with ADHD certainly exist, I oppose it on scientific grounds. NIMH has admitted that there is no evidence that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction. Why won't you?

[Lazamataz]

From personal experience, I can tell you that the various forms of Dyslexia can mimick ADD/ADHD as well.

Interesting! But I am very sure I do ton evah aixelsyd.