ADHD & Why It’s a “Fictitious” Disorder

[Spectral]

seems pretty clear to me.

Right, I know it seems clear to you, you've said as much. Again though, if you don't get why there's a difference in incentives between what's described there and receiving payment for prescription, I don't think you know enough how these systems work to have a meaningfully opinion on it. Obviously you disagree, but I guess that's that.

- - - Updated - - -

Years ago we used to call people with certain conditions possessed by devils or witches. Just because we didn't classify things a certain way in the past doesn't mean those classifications today are wrong.

Likewise, this anecdote can be used to notice that current opinion does not necessarily reflect reality.

[Total Crica]

Even if we take your interpretation of the original statement, it's still not clear how you derived your statement from that. ( which by the way didn't say you get evil doctors from healthcare either.)

The statement said private healthcare produces people who do things that harm others. So I asked if they want all privatization removed because logic follows that all privatization will produce people who do things that harm others.

[Authary]

Well, does it exist outside of the united states ? I've never met/heard of a french person having ADHD.

[Total Crica]

If you want to know how much your doctor is being paid or what incentives they are receiving from drug companies all of that information is publically available.

Uh huh, and who ensures that information is true? Both private and public sources of anything have the same unreliable factor - humans that can lie and decieve

[Machismo]

If I suspected my daughter had actual ADHD and it was affecting her studies, I'd seek out a doctor.

The issue may not be that it is affecting her studies, it could be impacting the studies of the other students. My son was doing the best in his class, by far, but he was wandering around the class, making noises, and being a distraction. We finally started medicating him, because his issue was causing problems for other students.

- - - Updated - - -

No, I didn't. Her studies and focus in class weren't suffering, so I felt no need to seek a doctor out. I think the teacher just didn't want to deal with a child that wasn't cookie cutter and thought differently. She's in 5th grade now and it was only this one teacher that told me she did have it.

It could have easily been a lazy teacher. We had more than one teacher tell us, including one that also happened to be a child psychologist. Not only that, we also saw it at a fairly young age (4 years old). My son couldn't even sit down in class.

[starlord]

Right, I know it seems clear to you, you've said as much. Again though, if you don't get why there's a difference in incentives between what's described there and receiving payment for prescription, I don't think you know enough how these systems work to have a meaningfully opinion on it. Obviously you disagree, but I guess that's that.

it directly affects their rates of prescription. but i guess im just too dumb to understand that doctors recieving money from drug companies doesnt influence their practices.

[Deleted]

Shhh logic is a mysterious thing to them.

I blame the autistics that caught adhd from vacines.

[HumbleDuck]

The statement said private healthcare produces people who do things that harm others. So I asked if they want all privatization removed because logic follows that all privatization will produce people who do things that harm others.

Except logic doesn't follow.
If A ⊂ C & A causes B, it does not necessarily mean all subsets of C cause B as well.

[Total Crica]

Except logic doesn't follow.
If A ⊂ C & A causes B, it does not necessarily mean all subsets of C cause B as well.

Because humans are involved in both private and public ventures, humans that can lie and deceive and manipulate.

So, no, neither their statement nor mine is logical as a result.

[Ilir]

ADHD is a real disorder. Do i think some are diagnosed with it by mistake yes ? Should we care ? no

[Themius]

Again, her studies and focus in class weren't suffering, so I felt no need to seek a doctor out. I think the teacher just didn't want to deal with a child that wasn't cookie cutter and thought differently. She's in 5th grade now and it was only this one teacher that told me she did have it.

Thanks for your concern, but I'll do what I think is best for my children.

It was only one teacher who noticed my issues the rest didn't.

[HumbleDuck]

Because humans are involved in both private and public ventures, humans that can lie and deceive and manipulate.

So, no, neither their statement nor mine is logical as a result.

But if in an environent selling more drugs is encouraged due to lack of regulations doesn't it give those humans an incentive to lie and deceive? The difference in healthcare system is that the consumer usually doesn't have choice, while in let's say automotive industry, they can easily pass a judgment, in medical treatment they need almost two decade of study and experience to even be able to pass a judgment. ( Not to mention the risks of a bad judgment in the latter case.)

http://static4.businessinsider.com/i...t-90040-am.png

[Spectral]

My parents never suspected I actually had ADHD. So... maybe you shouldn't make your own unofficial diagnosis either, and take her to a professional.

My suspicion is that in cultures where witch-doctors are common, professional witch-doctors tend to find that they have answers for pretty much everything and that pretty much everyone needs their help.

Of course, psychologists are nothing like witch-doctors. Psychologists play dress up in serious doctor clothes and have journals and everything, so we know they're basically legit.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, does it exist outside of the united states ? I've never met/heard of a french person having ADHD.

Here's a good summary.

This is probably somewhat more charitable to American psychology than I'm likely to be.

- - - Updated - - -

ADHD is a real disorder. Do i think some are diagnosed with it by mistake yes ? Should we care ? no

Yeah, I mean what's a few billion dollars spent to sedate perfectly healthy children? That seems fine, why should anyone care?

[Deleted]

I don't agree that it's a "fictitious" disorder, but I do think too many Doctors and Teachers are quick to label children as having ADHD. I think teachers don't want to deal with kids that don't fall-in-line and are like every other child - cookie cutter. Children are individuals and think differently. Some need different teaching techniques, but it seems like teachers don't want to do that anymore. I just think teachers have gotten more lazy and demand certain children be medicated.

You don't really have to call it a disorder if you don't want to, just pull the relativity card and call it whatever you want, or call on biology and advocate it as a vital part of societal evolution, what we can't ignore is the reality that our society revolves around specific standards so the teachers are just trying to sound an alarm when they notice something that doesn't adhere to those standards.

Also i think you'll be surprised on what the market can offer in terms of specialised treatments, there are places who really work miracles when the cost (not necessarily money) isn't much of an issue, the public sector simply cannot invest the time and resources required to properly manage each individual case, you have to study the history of each individual and spend a tremendous amount of time with them in order to figure out what makes them tick.

It's all just a really difficult logistical exercise for any government, how much energy should be invested in each individual and at what point do we call it quits?

[zephid]

It's fictitious for 90% of people who are diagnosed with ADHD, by your own rationale. Giving those people PG-rated cocaine isn't going to improve their mental health.

But ADHD doesn't become a fictitious disorder just because people get the wrong diagnose.

[deadman1]

In fact, 90 percent of these kids don’t have an abnormal dopamine metabolism.

This disproves your title.

[alzoron]

Likewise, this anecdote can be used to notice that current opinion does not necessarily reflect reality.

You are correct, it can be. Though, my post wasn't really an attack on the OPs position but more of an attack on their argument that the smaller number of diagnoses in the past compared to the present is substantial proof that the condition isn't real. The fields of Psychology and Psychiatry have gone under dramatic changes over the years and to say because something wasn't believed to be true in the past means it isn't true now is a fallacious argument and doesn't belong in a serious discussion on the matter.

My own personal beliefs on the matter are that ADHD is grossly over-diagnosed. To say that it's not real though is disingenuous and harmful.

Also, noticing the source of the article it's from one of those all-natural health cult sites where people believe you can cure everything with sunshine, tree bark, and fairy shit.

[Authary]

Here's a good summary.

This is probably somewhat more charitable to American psychology than I'm likely to be.

Wow, someone took time to write on THIS particular subject ? Thanks.

I particularly like this line :

"French parents, Druckerman observes, love their children just as much as American parents."

[Total Crica]

But if in an environment selling more drugs is encouraged due to lack of regulations doesn't it give those humans an incentive to lie and deceive? The difference in healthcare system is that the consumer usually doesn't have choice, while in let's say automotive industry, they can easily make a judgment, in medical treatment they need almost two decade of study and experience to even be able to pass a judgment. ( Not to mention the risks of a bad judgment in the latter case.)

http://static4.businessinsider.com/i...t-90040-am.png

You can regulate private healthcare. You can't ensure those regulations are followed because humans are doing the regulating.

[THE Bigzoman]

The fact that wayyyy more boys than girls are diagnosed with this "disorder" in classrooms doesn't exactly helps its case either.

Be that as it may, I was prescribed it 4 years ago and haven't looked back. I'm far more productive now than i've ever been.