Is ADHD a fraud perpetuated by the Psychiatric-Pharmaceutical Complex?

Along with bipolar II, Asperger's Syndrome, social phobia, and oppositional defiant disorder?

Those disorders are real and a lot of people suffer daily because of them. Not everyone who has those disorders is on medication or having some kind of treatment and in many cases there doesn't even exist medication or treatment for the worst symptoms. Mild cases are also usually left untreated.

Studies have shown differences in brain activity in people who have ADHD or Asperger's syndrome (I'm not sure if similar studies exist for the other disorders you mentioned), which is physical evidence that those disorders are real.

The fact that you can't grasp what those disorders are really like and how much they affect the person does not mean that those disorders are made up. When reading about disorders the description can sound very general, like it could fit a much wider group of people than it really does. That's why people should leave diagnosis up to professionals who understand those disorders in depth and know how severe the symptoms must be in order to fit the diagnosis.

You are stigmatizing real conditions, which will only increase the suffering for those who really have them.

I think the frequency of diagnosis has increased since the medication became available.. I do know PET Studies do show a difference in brain electrical activity in the ADHD / ADD .. According to one study I read there are 6 different subclasses of ADHD/ADD.

Now, that said, if medication is available to treat the symptoms of an illness the question comes to mind who is doing the diagnosis, often this doesn't present until the child is in school. So schools in an effort to manage behavior request consults to validate an amateur dianosis instead of working to manage behavior in other ways.

Parents are willing to wash their hands of parenting to the medication as well.
So, fraud is not necessarily correct. The Pharmaceutical firms provide a viable solution for behavior management, it is simply a business transaction for them.

I do believe the diagnosis exists however I also feel is is likely over diagnosed as are many "MH" illnesses.

I know what you mean. It seems no one can get by these days without applying a label to themselves or others, and it usually involves a 3- or 4-letter abbreviation for something no one can pronounce or has never heard of before. Let's face it, there is no such thing as "normal."

This is not to say there are some people who definitely do have problems and some of them are organic and can be treated or managed with specific medication. Generally, the side effects from most of these medications become pronounced in persons who do not truly suffer from the disorder they have been diagnosed as having, or they would benefit from behavior therapy more than just taking a pill.

My brother was diagnosed with ADHD way back in the late 50's/early 60's. At that time, all they had was Ritalin (sp?) and it turned him into a zombie. Given, he was not an easy child to deal with when he wasn't on it, he had learning problems, but he was miserable on the medication. He said he didn't feel like himself. So, he and our mother ritually flushed the pills down the toilet and she promised him they would find a way to deal with it without medication.

The rest of us kids participated in a family discussion with our parents, educating us on patience, understanding and adapting, letting us know how we could help. When brother could not sit still and had to rock back and forth on the couch in order to relax, the go sit on the floor if it was annoying. Brother was enrolled in every organized sport known to mankind and excelled in each one because of his energy. At the same time, he had to learn limits and boundaries and coping mechanisms.

He never took any medication again and is now 50 years old. He knows he needs to exercise regularly and has been a marathon runner for over 30 years. He also is highly intelligent, has a quick wit, and a great deal of compassion for others.

I don't think ADHD is a fraud. I know there are people who genuinely suffer with the disorder. I think it is definitely over-diagnosed in many who lack parental involvement. Everyone is looking for a quick fix, and that is definitely the solution that has bee perpetuated by the psych-pharmaceutical companies.

No. People suffer from symptoms of those disorders.

I read in the UK, they don't allow pharmaceutical commercials on TV. I think that's the problem in the US. People see a commercial for ADHD and a pill that the commercial makes look like the miracle for all, they self-diagnose, run to their MD, get the pill..then they're usually a lifer in the psych med world. Whether they have the disorder or any disorder or not.

These conditions do actually exist and often overlap,but i do agree 2 some extent that psychiatrists and (parents), all to often put a label and often stigmatise people by giving out these conditions.

That said psychiatrists are the only medical professionals that can give a diagnosis purely on there own assumptions without any factual proof and are closely linked with the pharmaceutical industry.

so realy a yes and no answer could be given "LOL"
rich

No.

ADHD is probably overdiagnosed because parents have heard sp much about it, they think general childhood issues are abnormal. The other problem with ADHD is that primary care doctors are diagnosing it, and that should be lefy up to an expert in childhood development/psychology.