Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 155

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ADD Bashing: Web & Press

Posted by Ictinus on July 19, 1998, at 7:14:14

I am an adult with ADD and have become concerned at the misinformation and poor thinking frequently being expressed about ADD.

The other evening for example Larry King had a group of 'expert' physicians on his TV show. The Ritalin overuse issue came up and the agree consensus was that indeed that it was being overused. This follows a recent JAMA article / AMA policy statement in support of current practices. I guess Dr. Timothy Johnson missed this one issue of JAMA. Note also that the accusation was the Overuse of Ritalin not Overdiagnosis of ADD. I doubt there would be such an outcry if imipramine was the primary therapy for ADD, even though stimulants are better tolerated/safer than tricyclics. Were these guys out frying eggs during their psychopharmacology classes?

Similarly there is a rash of web sites frightening parents and individual from medical treatment of ADD. Many of these site are vendors of nutritional supplements or books that are trying to cash in on a new market. It is commonplace to see pseudoscientific presentations to support their anti-medical claims. And there is the emotional appeal of NATURAL treatments. (Isn't snake venom natural?) One site touts that childhood stimulant therapy is a disqualification from serving in the armed forces -- any truth to this? Another claims that the schools are entirely at fault and homeschooling is the solution. That social worker didn't say if she did her grad studies via home schooling. I ivately I envision an ADD child being homeschooled by an ADD parent!

Recently I have corresponded online with a clinical psychologist who discounts the concept of ADD. He publicly expresses these views on his web site. He doubts about how a kid can attend to playing video games but have ADD or that ADD is biologically based. Since transmitter levels can fall following psychological events, PET scans studies are meaningless he claims. He also discounts ADD since he has so many ADD kids flocking to his office -- often after failed treatment at the hands of physicians. I doubt those successfully treated would stop by his office. Moreover I question whether those flocking were given adequate doses of stimulants, if a second trial of stimulants was undertaken, and if those kids were properly diagnosed.

Perhaps Dr. Bob you would consider an ADD forum where these alternative thinkers could dialog with those in the medical community and others. I think many of us would benefit just from following the threads that would develop.

Thanks for your great site!

Another Bob

 

Re: ADD Bashing: Web & Press

Posted by Dr. Bob on July 20, 1998, at 9:42:45

In reply to ADD Bashing: Web & Press, posted by Ictinus on July 19, 1998, at 7:14:14

> I am an adult with ADD and have become concerned
> at the misinformation and poor thinking
> frequently being expressed about ADD.

ADD is still controversial. There's a lot of
misinformation out there, but it's not only on the
Internet.

This Information Revolution has given people access
to lots of information. Overall, that's a good
thing, I think, but it can cause problems if it's
not good information.

Like I say in the disclaimer for this site, "Don't
(necessarily) believe everything you hear."

> Perhaps Dr. Bob you would consider an ADD forum
> where these alternative thinkers could dialog
> with those in the medical community and others.

People are free to use this forum to discuss ADD...

Bob

 

Re: ADD Bashing: Web & Press

Posted by Julie on August 3, 1998, at 10:28:14

In reply to Re: ADD Bashing: Web & Press, posted by julie on August 3, 1998, at 10:11:34

I think the first day I really felt better after years of struggling with an unknown captor...was the day I read about ADD in DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION by Hallowell.

This condition is so difficult to define when I'm speaking to others about it, that I can understand some people and even clinicians doubting its' existence.

My question to those individuals is "Okay then, YOU TELL ME WHAT I HAVE if you know so much."

There is a piece of paper in my living room floor, that has been there for a few days. I can't pick it up. ADD sufferers know what I mean. Non empathetic clinicians and naysayers apparently only believe in what they can see and feel. They will probably never "get it" (what we are experiencing). Thank God there are plenty of care givers who do understand and believe

 

Re: ADD Bashing: Web & Press

Posted by Janet on September 16, 1998, at 3:01:30

In reply to Re: ADD Bashing: Web & Press , posted by Julie on August 3, 1998, at 10:28:14

> I think the first day I really felt better after years of struggling with an unknown captor...was the day I read about ADD in DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION by Hallowell.

> This condition is so difficult to define when I'm speaking to others about it, that I can understand some people and even clinicians doubting its' existence.


> My question to those individuals is "Okay then, YOU TELL ME WHAT I HAVE if you know so much."

> There is a piece of paper in my living room floor, that has been there for a few days. I can't pick it up. ADD sufferers know what I mean. Non empathetic clinicians and naysayers apparently only believe in what they can see and feel. They will probably never "get it" (what we are experiencing). Thank God there are plenty of care givers who do understand and believe

Dear Julie,
I too have read "Driven..." and several other books by Hallowell. The day I picked up that book while in my daughters speech pathologists office is the day my like finally started falling into place. I read about the "cough drop symptom" and felt as if I'd been struck by thunder! "When You Worry About The Child You Love"is also a life changing book and should be required reading for all parents.
I was diagnosed with ADD 3 months ago. I'm 32, and would you believe that my own husband pooh-poohs my diagnosis. He'd rather believe I'm an irresponsible, lazy, air-head than an otherwise wonderful woman with a (gasp!) neurological disorder. Unfortunately, our son also has Tourette Syndrome and ADD, so he truly can't deny what's going on.
I am TEXTbook ADD w/o hyperactivity. My symptoms began in kindergarten. I am sooo relieved to be in treatment finally that I really could'nt care less what the naysayers think. I just want to be sure that the kids who require treatment to survive and thrive in school and their social lives aren't prevented from receiving treatment because of the ignorance of those who can't or won't empathize with ADDers. I sometimes mourn the opportunities I passed up because I was incapable of making logical decisions in my life, even as a young child.
Well, I could go on and on, but I'll stop here, I just hope the fight to publicize and treat TS, ADD and the related Spectrum Disorders will race forward, improving the lives of all who can benefit.
Most sincerely,
Janet


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