ADHD? Real or bogus?

I'm no expert but I personally believe that because my parents are so vastly different from one another I got a combination of their genes that produced these symptoms in me. Also my dad exhibited minor signs of ADD although he was never diagnosed with it and wasn't an issue enough for him to ever look into it. What I grew out of was the 'H' (hyperactivity) part but I still sometimes have trouble concentrating although I learned overtime to defeat this enemy within me and take control of it.

 

Is that scientifically supported in any way?

What is the most up to date and objective scientific take on it?

What source would you personally most trust?

 

Do you think this condition would be equallly/more/less in a second or third world nation?

Do you think that is a factor?

 

No it's not scientifically supported to my knowledge. But I would trust .edu and scholarly journals, among other reliable sources. But what I mean but vastly different is they both have quirks of their own, in different ways, so that probably had something to do with it. But the most compelling reason is that my dad had minor signs of ADD and I also had birth complications.

 

I believe its real just not nearly as many cases as are cited though in all my time in school in a private school I knew ONE student diagnosed and taking medication for this, ONE. I suspect there are cases out there just its easier to treat an "antsy" child with a drug than proper discipline and giving them other outlets.

 

hahahahaha...just like the old days...LOL

 

What are the basic differences between that, and ADHD?

When does one become the other?

 

They are the same thing essentially. ADD becomes ADHD when it is accompanied by hyperactivity. If it's just attentiveness that one is suffering from than it is ADD.

 

I see.

Seems like semantics, in the end.

I take it both are 'treated' using the same methods and medications?

 

The difference is in what is causing the inattentiveness. In ADHD the hyperactivity is the main source of the suffering. With ADD it's obviously something else. They are both treated in some different ways, some same. As for lifestyle, diet and exercise these are all tried immediately to eliminate obvious outside sources for the doctor. If that doesn't help they usually will move onto medication (although there are non-drug treatments but they tend to be very expensive). For ADHD they're given something to tone down and focus their brain, ritalin is typically used for this, at least initially. For ADD, stimulants, such as Amphetamine mixed salts are used. For most people who take these stimulant drugs their mind gets sped up. For someone suffering from ADD or ADHD these medications actually slow their mind down and calm them. So it's like they're tweaked out naturally and these medications normalize their behavior and thinking processes.

 

Synonym for poor parenting disorder.

 

Sometimes. But overall that was an ignorant and stupid comment.

 

overall your comment makes pharmaceutical companies smile.

 

Medications are not the only solution. There are many ways of addressing this disorder. You shouldn't talk about things that you don't know the first thing about.

 

you shouldn't assume I don't.

 

In what % of cases do the meds really help the person taking them?

What about long term side effects?

 

I don't have the answer to that for you. These are powerful drugs, and I do know the success rate is pretty high...

It depends on the severity of the disorder and how the drugs are applied. Ideally the doctor will have a person take small doses in combination with a variety of other therapeutic treatments. In this case the drug is used to train your mind how to focus on your own and is only used temporarily. In this case the negative long term effects are minimal. If they are used on a regular basis as just a crutch then aside from the physical effects that come with taking these kinds of stimulants long-term, when/if the person gets off the medication their symptoms will likely be much worse than they were before the drugs. Medication alone is not a treatment unless as a last resort.

 

for knowing what you are taking about, you'd think you would have known that Ritalin was also a stimulant causing increased catecholamine concentrations in the CNS, like amphetamines.

 

They are both stimulants. You read that wrong and/or I wasn't clear. Sorry for the confusion. Ritalin effects the mind differently from amphetamine based ones, however.

In comparison to illegal drugs, ritalin is to cocaine as amphetamine is to meth. Both stimulants, both very different from one another.

 

Amazed that more don't get sold on, in the illegal markets, in that case.

 

they all cause release of catecholamines.
Cocaine also happens to be an esther class local anesthetic.

the action of methylphenidate appears to be closely related to dopamine release, like amphetamines.

 

Pretty high sounds good.

Do they mostly benefit the taker, or the parents and the teachers?

Surely though, when they are no longer taken, the behaviours default, perhaps even get worse?

 

Well obviously amphetamine is not as powerful as meth and ritalin is not as powerful as cocaine. They are like cousins, if you will.

 

Even still.

 

meth is amphetamine