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What you wrote is not definitive. What is the cause of ADHD? There is no physical test for it and its cause is unknown. Some experts believe it is caused by

• _98fj 11y ago
  What makes conversations about this very confusing is the fact that neurotransmitters and "chemical imbalances" cannot be seen in isolation. What we are talking about is signalling inside particular structures. Changes in signalling over time effect changes in structure, just like different behaviour does. (actually different behaviour IS change in signalling) Thus it's no wonder that psychiatric drugs have so many unpredictable effects. Administration of amphetamine might calm you, by exciting a down-regulating part of your brain, that is "structured correctly" (lack of a better word) and simultaneously give you anxiety by exciting the amygdala. It differs from person to person. It's also no wonder that people and scientists interchangeably exclaim "Behaviour!", "Genes!", "Education!", "Lack of dopamine!" when trying to explain ADHD. It's a mixture of all of those things, but there is definitely a genetic component, which seems to make certain kinds of people way way less apt in controlling their impulses. Psychiatric drugs don't change the structure of your brain, but, if administered carefully, they lower the bar to change it by behaviour and thoughts, thus being ultimately able to get rid of the medication all together.
  • dubhrosa 11y ago
    Genuine question: has there been any study that actually measured the "levels" of neurotransmitters in the brain and correlated them with the subjects' behavior? Has there been any study that actually demonstrates what the normal levels of these chemicals are in adults and children, and what the normal range is, and what environmental and nutritional factors can influence them? I ask because I constantly hear the "chemical imbalance" explanation for behavioural issues and prescribing these drugs, but I have not ever found a paper that actually provides scientific evidence for this explanation.
    • DanBC 11y ago
      > I ask because I constantly hear the "chemical imbalance" explanation for behavioural issues and prescribing these drugs, EDIT: can I check: are you hearing that from doctors doing the prescribing?
      • dubhrosa 11y ago
        Yes Edit: I also hear it frequently from parents of children who have been referred to psychiatrists by their schoolteachers for (in my opinion at least) fairly minor disruptive behaviour in class; they are repeating what the psychiatrists tell them. The psychiatrists also quote statistics like "half of Swedish inmates are adhd, so if you don't treat your child's adhd there's a good chance he'll end up a criminal (yes really). Here in the UK the diagnosing psychiatrist is also the one that the child must return to twice a year for a checkup at 500 pounds per visit.
        • DanBC 11y ago
          So, you haven't actually heard it from the doctors? Because (especially in the UK) any prescribing doctor talking about chemical imbalance for ADHD in children is incompetent. > Here in the UK the diagnosing psychiatrist is also the one that the child must return to twice a year for a checkup at 500 pounds per visit. This is false. All treatment is available for free on the NHS. Once they have a diagnosis children don't have to see the same psychiatrist - or any psychiatrist. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg72/chapter/1-Guidance#diagnosis-of-adhd https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg72/chapter/1-Guidance#dia... > 1.3.1.1 A diagnosis of ADHD should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD, on the basis of: [...] > 1.5.3.2 Drug treatment should only be initiated by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional with expertise in ADHD and should be based on a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis. Continued prescribing and monitoring of drug therapy may be performed by general practitioners, under shared care arrangements[7].