3 ms·

Renowned Harvard Psychologist Says ADHD Is Largely a Fraud

3 points by daegloe 10y ago

LeoSolaris 10y ago
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20170215/imaging-study-confirms-brain-differences-in-people-with-adhd http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20170215/imaging-study-co... Neurological studies of developmental difference between children with ADHD and baseline give physical evidence that the psychologist interviewed for that opinion piece is demonstrably wrong. In most cases, ADHD in children is the outcome of pieces of the brain not developing at the same pace as the rest of the brain. That is also why children often "grow out of" the disorder... those components do eventually grow to adult size. They are just slightly behind schedule. ADHD medication is a stimulant, which pushes the logic center of the brain to operate faster. At that point the logic center is able to compensate for the underdeveloped pieces that should be regulating attention.
uptownfunk 10y ago
I wonder how much of this is due to environmental and upbringing factors. How much coke / caffeine do kids drink these days? How much more exposure to media / apps possibly contributes to this? What about how our food is produced nowadays? I don't want to disregard someone's personal experience or health issue, but I think there are some cases where symptoms resembling ADHD can be aided by some lifestyle changes.
- wahern 10y ago
  Pathologies that aren't susceptible to lifestyle changes are few and far between. Death is the only one I can think of off the top of my head.
WheelsAtLarge 10y ago
Here's a link to a NY Times article that describes how big pharma turned a true affliction into a money making condition thru advertising to doctors and patients and the relaxing of the diagnostic rules for ADHD. It's an eye opening read. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/health/the-selling-of-attention-deficit-disorder.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/health/the-selling-of-atte...
DanBC 10y ago
This seems to be written as a response to the over-diagnosis and over-treatment that happens in the US. But it's going to be used against people in the UK and other countries where there are much lower rates of diagnosis and treatment.

3 points by daegloe 10y ago

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20170215/imaging-study-confirms-brain-differences-in-people-with-adhd http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20170215/imaging-study-co... Neurological studies of developmental difference between children with ADHD and baseline give physical evidence that the psychologist interviewed for that opinion piece is demonstrably wrong. In most cases, ADHD in children is the outcome of pieces of the brain not developing at the same pace as the rest of the brain. That is also why children often "grow out of" the disorder... those components do eventually grow to adult size. They are just slightly behind schedule. ADHD medication is a stimulant, which pushes the logic center of the brain to operate faster. At that point the logic center is able to compensate for the underdeveloped pieces that should be regulating attention.

uptownfunk 10y ago

I wonder how much of this is due to environmental and upbringing factors. How much coke / caffeine do kids drink these days? How much more exposure to media / apps possibly contributes to this? What about how our food is produced nowadays? I don't want to disregard someone's personal experience or health issue, but I think there are some cases where symptoms resembling ADHD can be aided by some lifestyle changes.

wahern 10y ago
Pathologies that aren't susceptible to lifestyle changes are few and far between. Death is the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

WheelsAtLarge 10y ago

Here's a link to a NY Times article that describes how big pharma turned a true affliction into a money making condition thru advertising to doctors and patients and the relaxing of the diagnostic rules for ADHD. It's an eye opening read. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/health/the-selling-of-attention-deficit-disorder.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/health/the-selling-of-atte...

DanBC 10y ago

This seems to be written as a response to the over-diagnosis and over-treatment that happens in the US. But it's going to be used against people in the UK and other countries where there are much lower rates of diagnosis and treatment.