Re: ADD/Ritalin

I'm not a clinician , but I have read quite a bit of the literature, as I
will be doing something around ADD for the dissertation for my MS in
psychology ...

Response to stimulants is not diagnostic of AD/HD. Hallowell & Ratey
state in " Driven to Distraction " that 30% of people with clinical ADD
do not respond - Dr Hallowell is one such himself.

Likewise non-ADD kids will show a response to Ritalin - much as some
vigilance tasks can be improved in the short term by the nicotine in tobacco.

Diagnosis must be on the basis of a full medical, educational, social and
developmental history , backed up by observations and ideally
psychometric testing. This could cost $1k per patient. ( That's roughly
what it cost me.) Unfortunately some school authorities , insurance
companies etc. may want to cut corners , and there will be false positives
AND false negatives.

Ian N Ford DMS FRSH
London UK

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