Attention deficit disorder

[Coconut]

I have been thinking about this for a while and I'm almost convinced that I suffer from ADD (properly known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Predominantly Inattentive). Does anyone else have this (without hyperactivity)? If so, what treatments/courses of action have you taken?

I was looking through Wikipedia and found this list of criteria. I meet every single one quite prominently.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Is often forgetful in daily activities.

In addition, I find myself extremely lethargic, somewhat emotionally detached, having persisting feelings of depersonalisation and so on. This has been going on for as long as I can remember and it is making my academic life difficult - I am on the verge of having to drop out of university as I simply cannot force myself to study uninteresting subjects.

Can anyone offer any advice? Replies from Irish members with ADHD-PI would be particularly encouraging as I'm not sure what treatments are available in this country and whether methylphenidate or amphetamines are used if medication is recommended.

[Bajeda]

See a specialist. Psychiatrist, psychologist, neurologist, whatever (just not a GP).

It is essentially impossible to self-diagnose mental disorders with any certainty, especially based off a short checklist. There could be other underlying problems (genetic or environmental) that contribute to these symptoms, or it could be a case of ADD.

It is quite easy to agree that you experience the things on the wiki list, but a full diagnostic evaluation is necessary to be sure.



I am diagnosed with ADHD-PI, but looking at some of the newer research, S.C.T. (Slow Cognitive Tempo) seems to be a much better descriptor even if it isn't officially recognized yet.

Unfortunately for people with ADHD-PI, stimulant medications are generally not very effective as compared to general ADHD.

Otherwise, there are some threads around on ADHD, both discussing of the disorder and its treatment, so those are worth checking out once swiy has seen a medical professional.

[Coconut]

Thanks Bajeda. I appreciate your insight.

I hope to be seeing a specialist soon. I have been compiling a list of my symptoms to show them - one thing I have noticed is that it seems to be getting worse as time goes on.

I realise that Wikipedia is not exactly the best source for information and that a diagnosis is impossible to make using such little information but for the longest time I have felt as though something isn't right. I believe ADHD-PI explains everything although I would not be surprised if there was a genetic component to this.

[Horiz]

I'm in exactly the same situation, I've been trying to get tested for a long time - it's extremely frustrating.

I've seen about 4 different doctors, 2 psychologists and 2 psychiatrists and only very recently is there a chance of actually being tested finally.

As far as I'm aware, Ritalin is pretty much the only medication for ADHD (in mainland UK anyway) however I believe Adderall is obtainable with a "specialized prescription".

[ShawnD]

Originally Posted by Coconut

I find myself extremely lethargic, somewhat emotionally detached, having persisting feelings of depersonalisation and so on. This has been going on for as long as I can remember and it is making my academic life difficult - I am on the verge of having to drop out of university as I simply cannot force myself to study uninteresting subjects.

This sounds like depression.

ADHD is more like a mild form of mania, "characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility" (wiki). Robin Williams is pretty much the definition of ADHD: video

In any event, I think ADHD medication would be great for depression. The antidepressant Wellbutrin works on the same neurotransmitters as Adderall, but Adderall is like 100x as strong

[Bajeda]

Robin Williams reminds me more of a bipolar person in a massive manic phase than someone with ADHD.

[ShawnD]

Originally Posted by Bajeda

Robin Williams reminds me more of a bipolar person in a massive manic phase than someone with ADHD.

True, but his behavior is very typical of someone with ADHD. Here's another video of a guy explaining his own ADHD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A82YDBKJYC4
You'll notice that his description very closely mimics the way Robin Williams presents himself on stage.

Here's another guy who has a less manic version of the same thing. Disorganized thoughts, and rants that go way off topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5urmU...eature=related

[Ontherooftops]

Sounds like the result of a fast paced, goal oriented society, which you (and a fairly large percentage of western civilization) cannot keep up with.

In our modern capitalist society we're lead to believe that not being able to keep up with the preposterous goals set by the economy and the social collective is a disorder.

The prescribing of stimulant medications for this inability to meet societal standards both boosts the economy by providing an indefinate addict to the pharmaceutical industry and by creating a more "motivated" individual with reduced resistance to the way of life upon which our economy is based.

There is ample evidence that over time these medications cause the same symptoms for which they are prescribed. There is really no evidence that ADD and ADHD exist, except for the fact that certain individuals fit the categories described by physicians and researchers.

Believing that you are ADHD will in no way help you in life, only lower your confidence in your own personal power and take away your belief that you can function as nature made you, without being dependant upon the pharmaceutical industry.

[Bajeda]

Could you please show me some research that suggests that ADHD is not an actual phenomenon?

I agree that seeing ADHD as an illness and viewing it in a negative light and perhaps using it as an excuse (definitely possible, probably more so in lower levels of education) can be a bad thing, the corpus of research suggests that it is an actual mental condition, if not completely elucidated as of yet.

[Coconut]

Originally Posted by ShawnD

This sounds like depression.

ADHD is more like a mild form of mania, "characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility" (wiki). Robin Williams is pretty much the definition of ADHD: video

In any event, I think ADHD medication would be great for depression. The antidepressant Wellbutrin works on the same neurotransmitters as Adderall, but Adderall is like 100x as strong

ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive does not have a hyperactivity component, which is why it's sometimes known as "ADHD without hyperactivity". It used to be referred to as "ADD" until it was made a sub-condition of ADHD.

People with ADHD-PI often exhibit symptoms of depression. I used to suffer from extremely serious depression but I haven't been so in a couple of years. My life and outlook have improved dramatically since then and I am positive that I am no longer depressed.

Originally Posted by Ontherooftops

Sounds like the result of a fast paced, goal oriented society, which you (and a fairly large percentage of western civilization) cannot keep up with.

In our modern capitalist society we're lead to believe that not being able to keep up with the preposterous goals set by the economy and the social collective is a disorder.

The prescribing of stimulant medications for this inability to meet societal standards both boosts the economy by providing an indefinate addict to the pharmaceutical industry and by creating a more "motivated" individual with reduced resistance to the way of life upon which our economy is based.

There is ample evidence that over time these medications cause the same symptoms for which they are prescribed. There is really no evidence that ADD and ADHD exist, except for the fact that certain individuals fit the categories described by physicians and researchers.

Believing that you are ADHD will in no way help you in life, only lower your confidence in your own personal power and take away your belief that you can function as nature made you, without being dependant upon the pharmaceutical industry.

I have no doubt that ADHD has something to do with modern society. I do not believe this is the way man is supposed to live and I intend not to take part once I have completed my education. It may be that my mind simply cannot cope, but I have exhibited ADHD-PI-like symptoms my whole life - believing whether or not I have ADHD has little to do with it. The symptoms are there and they are holding me back, as they have done for so long. I got through school on my intelligence and cramming, but there's no way to do that in university, which is why I have been forced to stop and think about the whole situation. I have hit a brick wall.

I also have little doubt that doctors are given research grants ("bribes") by the pharmaceutical companies which manufacture amphetamines and methylphenidate for ADHD suffers, thereby encouraging them to diagnose millions of children with the condition. Other factors such as awful parenting etc don't come into these diagnoses, it's just a case of "hm, can't pay attention in class, hyperactive, let's put him on Ritalin". However, there are no other negative factors which could be affecting me - I simply exhibit all of the symptoms of ADHD-PI as I exist normally and have done so as far back as I can remember. I think that ADHD and ADHD-PI are real conditions, most likely, as you said, brought on by how life is these days, but actual sufferers are little concerned for because doctors diagnose the condition left, right and centre, throwing amphetamines at anyone who comes near them.

[ShawnD]

Originally Posted by Bajeda

Could you please show me some research that suggests that ADHD is not an actual phenomenon?

Just ignore him. He's one of those psychiatry truthers who thinks it's all a conspiracy. This article may be of some interest to him.


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The cause of ADHD is not clear-cut. It appears that certain receptors in the brain which normally respond to the neurotransmitter called dopamine are not working properly. Most likely, dopamine is not being produced at normal levels in the brain. Recent work in adults points to a defect in an enzyme called dopa decarboxylase which helps make dopamine. This defect in dopamine production occurs in the anterior frontal cortex, an area associated with cognitive processes such as focusing and attention.

That sounds sketchy, but it's on the right track. There are a lot of things that can interfere with dopamine production, and many of those causes are simple things that most people just wouldn't think about.

-lack of B vitamins
-lack of dietary protein
-lack of exercise
-lack of sunlight (yeah, really)
-drug use (including caffeine, nicotine, OTC drugs)
-lack of sleep

Every one of those above things can cause ADHD-like symptoms. You need B vitamins to create neurotransmitters, those vitamins create neurotransmitters from the protein you eat, exercise signals the brain to release them, sunlight somehow relates to serotonin production, drug use can deplete B vitamins, and sleep is when your body is actually making this stuff.

Medication is a good jump start to fixing the symptoms, but fixing the problem could require a serious lifestyle change.