Alan J. Robinson posted the following:
<Part of this controversy is its recent extension to adult behavior,
where it has indeed taken on the nature of a "pop" diagnosis.>
In some areas of N.A. it may be "easy" for adults to get this diagnosis.
However, it has been my experience in Canada that even those diagnosed
as children, and armed with records from their previous pediatrician,
are still having difficulty getting treatment for ADD as adults. It is
still widely believed that this disorder disappears "magically" at the
age of 18 or 21 (whenever the age of majority is in your state or
province).
Those adults who have not been previously diagnosed are having even
greater difficulty, as much of their life may be "muddied" with other
problems, such as anxiety, depression, learning disabilities,
relationship problems, substance abuse, etc. Often it is difficult to
get through all the differential diagnosis issues and sort out the root
cause.
It takes a very good diagnostician and lots of time to sort all this
current stuff out and also do a very thorough developmental (childhood),
academic and familial history. This often involves speaking to family
members or others who knew the patient during childhood. Some physicians
may not want to take the time, deny the disorder exists, or (worse case)
give a perscription just to get the patient out the door. From my
experience in dealing with many adults, most physicians won't deal with
this at all. It's like opening a real "can of worms". If a physician
places an adult on a stimulant, and is doing it too often, you have the
College of Physician and Surgeons and the pharmacists on your back. Who
would want to wade into this mess?
The media has made things much more difficult regarding ADD. There has
been so much "dis-information" about these disorders in the last couple
of years, that the whole thing has become a circus. This has created a
back-lash which has fallen on those who are legitimately suffering from
ADD and those who are good at diagnosing it. I would like to see what
would happen if the media attacked and belittled another psychiatric
disorder such as schizophrenia, which is the "hallowed ground" of
psychiatry. No psychiatric disorder has a "test" for it. Most are based
on presenting symptoms, history, and speaking to "significant others".
My experience is that ADD is not a "pop" diagnosis. ADD is a legitimate,
often underdiagnosed (especially in females), psychiatric disorder that
can contribute to severe problems in adulthood if not recognized and
treated properly.
That's my 4 cents worth.
Jan Thiessen
Learning Disabilities Assoc. of Manitoba
