ChatterBank4 mins ago
ADHD, Illness or just an excuse?
43 Answers
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by ELVIS68. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I am not an expert on Neuropsychiatric disorders so my opinion is based on that fact.
The diagnosis of ADHD and the prescribing of Ritalin has doubled over the past 15yrs and this does need some sort of explanation.
In fact, the essential first step in all diagnosis, even in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, is to make the fundamental “Is it a disease or isn’t it?
The absence of organic disease, over time, stands as the strongest evidence that a patient’s symptoms are psychogenic.
So, what is the medical evidence of an abnormality?
MRI scans have been taken of the brain along with biochemical studies and neurophysiological investigations.
Jake-the peg gave an excellent link to a study which, in my opinion, highlighted all the dangers and misinterpretations of medical studies. Firstly, the study was biased, as the group investigated had already been "labelled" as suffering from ADHD purely on clinical grounds without evidence of any abnormality.
Secondly, there was a Dopamine imbalance in a certain percentage in the trial, but it is wrong to assume, that this imbalance has anything to do with the symptoms and evidence for ADHD.
Also there has been demonstrated that other brain abnormalities are seen on MRI scanning, but there is nothing to counteract the claim that these are indeed due to Ritalin.
For me.....the jury is still out........I am not convinced of the existence of ADHD.
The diagnosis of ADHD and the prescribing of Ritalin has doubled over the past 15yrs and this does need some sort of explanation.
In fact, the essential first step in all diagnosis, even in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, is to make the fundamental “Is it a disease or isn’t it?
The absence of organic disease, over time, stands as the strongest evidence that a patient’s symptoms are psychogenic.
So, what is the medical evidence of an abnormality?
MRI scans have been taken of the brain along with biochemical studies and neurophysiological investigations.
Jake-the peg gave an excellent link to a study which, in my opinion, highlighted all the dangers and misinterpretations of medical studies. Firstly, the study was biased, as the group investigated had already been "labelled" as suffering from ADHD purely on clinical grounds without evidence of any abnormality.
Secondly, there was a Dopamine imbalance in a certain percentage in the trial, but it is wrong to assume, that this imbalance has anything to do with the symptoms and evidence for ADHD.
Also there has been demonstrated that other brain abnormalities are seen on MRI scanning, but there is nothing to counteract the claim that these are indeed due to Ritalin.
For me.....the jury is still out........I am not convinced of the existence of ADHD.
-- answer removed --
If I think back to my schooldays, I can quite easily identify several of my schoolmates who were the exasperation of the rest of their peers; badly behaved, hyperactive and general nuisances..........they came from a variety of backgrounds.
So, they either had ADHD and were undiagnosed or just badly behaved, OR they were *just* badly behaved. Naturally, they carried the label 'badly behaved'.
Fast forwards 30 years and now there is a diagnosis for children with similar behaviour...............and it seems to absolve many parents from their mistakes in child-rearing.
So, they either had ADHD and were undiagnosed or just badly behaved, OR they were *just* badly behaved. Naturally, they carried the label 'badly behaved'.
Fast forwards 30 years and now there is a diagnosis for children with similar behaviour...............and it seems to absolve many parents from their mistakes in child-rearing.
There is a tendancy to ovediagnose children. For example a quiet child is labelled as autistic, a child who just isn't very good at spelling is labelled dyslexic, and a child who has been brought up in a poorly disciplined enviroment is labelled as having ADHD. All this does is detract from the children who actually do suffer these disorders.
Sqad, I obviously have no where near your levels of expertise, but I do believe there is a lot more to learn about the human body than we already know, and although unconvinced you have kept an open mind to the possibility.
Brenda. You are entitled to an opinion, but when you labelled me apathetic then you crossed a line. Who the hell do you think you are to insult me, or question my methods of raising three children, one with special needs?
Sqad, I obviously have no where near your levels of expertise, but I do believe there is a lot more to learn about the human body than we already know, and although unconvinced you have kept an open mind to the possibility.
Brenda. You are entitled to an opinion, but when you labelled me apathetic then you crossed a line. Who the hell do you think you are to insult me, or question my methods of raising three children, one with special needs?
Bobjugs, from many of your previous posts it's obvious you are a committed and caring father....your kids are very lucky.
I shared an office with my friend through the whole period from the first suspicions of a problem to her sons diagnosis and through the battle to get him support in school and all the other issues She is happy to offer support/advice to any parent going through this, if you would like to contact her I could provide details if the ed will let me... or there is an alternative place I could send them.
I shared an office with my friend through the whole period from the first suspicions of a problem to her sons diagnosis and through the battle to get him support in school and all the other issues She is happy to offer support/advice to any parent going through this, if you would like to contact her I could provide details if the ed will let me... or there is an alternative place I could send them.
Rowan, thanks for the offer but i'm ok at present. I may take you up on it the future though.
Cazzz, tell me about it. I've had tuts, muttered comments and outright rudeness aimed at me and my son when we've been out. The hardest thing in the world is rising above it an showing your son that "it shouldn't bother you like it doesn't bother me" when realistically you want to tear someone apart either verbally or physically for being so prejudiced.
Cazzz, tell me about it. I've had tuts, muttered comments and outright rudeness aimed at me and my son when we've been out. The hardest thing in the world is rising above it an showing your son that "it shouldn't bother you like it doesn't bother me" when realistically you want to tear someone apart either verbally or physically for being so prejudiced.
bobjugs------ I gave a view on a topic , it was not personalised about you.How could it have been, when as an Aber, you are a name on the site as a contributor.If you choose to take my post personally then that is down to you.
If my post made you personally angry, then I am sorry,but you made the personal connection not me.
If my post made you personally angry, then I am sorry,but you made the personal connection not me.
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.