Re: ADD/Ritalin
Ian N Ford (ianford@DIRCON.CO.UK)
Thu, 7 Mar 1996 21:23:32 +0000
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
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
