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As a side note, it seems a lot of ADD/ADHD sufferers should be diagnosed with (instead of or also including) ODD or an executive functioning disorder. Our brai

As a side note, it seems a lot of ADD/ADHD sufferers should be diagnosed with (instead of or also including) ODD or an executive functioning disorder. Our brains, largely, are badly designed. And it sucks, especially with the HN crowd, we'd all be ten times more productive if we didn't all suffer from the same shit.

mjburgess 10y ago
For readers, ODD == Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Basically ADHD is just a symptom checklist, what causes it also causes a whole variety of other stuff not included in the same checklist for somewhat @political" reasons. In particular ODD means being reflexively and exaggeratedly defiant and hostile to authority. Possibly because its associated with external demands that are inherently difficult to meet (because of the ADHD part) and so quite tortuous and frustrating. What's remarkable is that the oppositional characteriststs associated wiith ADHD are significantly helped by stimulants. Which doesnt make any sense, if the oppositionality were some personality characteristic. It arises due to the very same cognative impairments.
- 234dd57d2c8db 10y ago
  Stimulants work because ADHD brains have whacked out dopamine regulation. Stimulants help smooth out the peaks and valleys associated with ADHD. Hyperfocus = overstimulated by dopamine, inattentiveness = understimulated. Taking a stimulate provides a consistent baseline level to help reduce the extremes.
  - warfangle 10y ago
    Stimulants work because they activate the underperforming portions of the prefrontal cortex related to attention management. Chalking it up to dopamine is a gross simplification. Adderal, for example, stimulates the release / reduces the re-uptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, histamine, and CART peptides.
- derefr 10y ago
  > causes a whole variety of other stuff not included in the same checklist for somewhat @political" reasons Like what? I have ADHD. I tend to notice that other people I know, who also have ADHD, tend to have a lot of other "not normally associated with ADHD" things in common with me. But I don't know which are true correlations, and which are just pareidolia on my part.
wu-ikkyu 10y ago
This is the first time I've heard of ODD. To be honest it seems almost comical that defiance of authority has its own medical diagnosis as a disorder. According to ODD, every pioneer in human rights (I.e. Susan Anthony, Thomas Jefferson, MLK, Jesus) should be regarded as mentally ill and drugged into submission.
- komali2 10y ago
  The symptoms of the disease don't necessarily translate to having the disease. Not everyone that is sad has clinical depression, not everyone that is obese suffers from glandular disorders. Etc.
  - dilemma 10y ago
    Not every problem a guy has with his girlfriend is necessarily caused by the capitalist mode of production.
- eon1 10y ago
  It's not a generic "defiance to authority", as I understand it's more like anyone trying to exert any kind of authority over you is bound to generate a kneejerk negative reaction, big issue or small, reasonable or not. Could be a parent, supervisor, partner, teacher, cop, etc. ODD is not related to an actual battle against your oppressors.
warfangle 10y ago
ADHD /is/ classified as an executive dysfunction (specifically, in regulating attention). Autism spectrum, schizophrenia, depression, and parkinson's disease are other well known disorders classified as an executive dysfunction. ODD ("a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness lasting at least six months") is not at all the same thing.
imranq 10y ago
Badly designed for what? Coding CRUD apps?
- darpa_escapee 10y ago
  This is a real question, not rhetorical: Does ADHD exist in similar numbers in societies that are less sedentary?

mjburgess 10y ago

For readers, ODD == Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Basically ADHD is just a symptom checklist, what causes it also causes a whole variety of other stuff not included in the same checklist for somewhat @political" reasons. In particular ODD means being reflexively and exaggeratedly defiant and hostile to authority. Possibly because its associated with external demands that are inherently difficult to meet (because of the ADHD part) and so quite tortuous and frustrating. What's remarkable is that the oppositional characteriststs associated wiith ADHD are significantly helped by stimulants. Which doesnt make any sense, if the oppositionality were some personality characteristic. It arises due to the very same cognative impairments.

234dd57d2c8db 10y ago
Stimulants work because ADHD brains have whacked out dopamine regulation. Stimulants help smooth out the peaks and valleys associated with ADHD. Hyperfocus = overstimulated by dopamine, inattentiveness = understimulated. Taking a stimulate provides a consistent baseline level to help reduce the extremes.
- warfangle 10y ago
  Stimulants work because they activate the underperforming portions of the prefrontal cortex related to attention management. Chalking it up to dopamine is a gross simplification. Adderal, for example, stimulates the release / reduces the re-uptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, histamine, and CART peptides.
derefr 10y ago
> causes a whole variety of other stuff not included in the same checklist for somewhat @political" reasons Like what? I have ADHD. I tend to notice that other people I know, who also have ADHD, tend to have a lot of other "not normally associated with ADHD" things in common with me. But I don't know which are true correlations, and which are just pareidolia on my part.

wu-ikkyu 10y ago

This is the first time I've heard of ODD. To be honest it seems almost comical that defiance of authority has its own medical diagnosis as a disorder. According to ODD, every pioneer in human rights (I.e. Susan Anthony, Thomas Jefferson, MLK, Jesus) should be regarded as mentally ill and drugged into submission.

komali2 10y ago
The symptoms of the disease don't necessarily translate to having the disease. Not everyone that is sad has clinical depression, not everyone that is obese suffers from glandular disorders. Etc.
- dilemma 10y ago
  Not every problem a guy has with his girlfriend is necessarily caused by the capitalist mode of production.
eon1 10y ago
It's not a generic "defiance to authority", as I understand it's more like anyone trying to exert any kind of authority over you is bound to generate a kneejerk negative reaction, big issue or small, reasonable or not. Could be a parent, supervisor, partner, teacher, cop, etc. ODD is not related to an actual battle against your oppressors.

warfangle 10y ago

ADHD /is/ classified as an executive dysfunction (specifically, in regulating attention). Autism spectrum, schizophrenia, depression, and parkinson's disease are other well known disorders classified as an executive dysfunction. ODD ("a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness lasting at least six months") is not at all the same thing.

imranq 10y ago

Badly designed for what? Coding CRUD apps?

darpa_escapee 10y ago
This is a real question, not rhetorical: Does ADHD exist in similar numbers in societies that are less sedentary?