Fixing the ADD Madness: The Diagnostic Mess

Right Targets Right Interventions
If you don't see the specific AD/HD target, if you don't have a specific objective, how can you hit anything no matter what technique you use? The debate about what to do for ADD treatment goes far beyond just the ADD medications I have repeatedly been reviewing here at CorePsychBlog: See this summary ADD Medication Details post.

Professionals Disagree
I'm out here with an amazing group of folks for a 4 day meeting in LA, some are child psychiatrists, some are psychologists, some are family counselors, and the offline debate is most interesting – each sees the ADD diamond from the lens of their experience and training. The good news is that a big shift is occurring as the most informed know they can't cover it all, myself included.

Excercise is helpful, nutrition is remarkably useful, breakfast and sleep are essential, ADD medicatons do help if they are used correctly, – but none of this works if they have an undiagnosed immune dysfunction [gluten sensitivity], a hormone dysregulation [PCOS], an addiction, brain injury, or psychological problems with a family member – to name but a few.

ADD is simply too complex a picture to just shoot the meds based upon a diagnostic manuel [DSM-IV]that is, quite simply, outdated. It's not wrong, it just isn't sufficient. Yes, it works if you want to talk to a teacher, but has limited value if you really work with those who suffer the complexity of ADD Spectrum Disorders.

Stay tuned will be doing more regular updates here, gotta run to the meeting this AM, driving down to the Westin at LAX from up North near Beverly Dr.

Quick Personal Note
It's been great fun staying with my LA family in West Hollywood, my son who works at Cedar Sinai as an anesthesiologist. my super daughter in law who works as a nurse there, and my grandson who smiles all day, from first blush in the AM until he starts to fade at night – and, at 9 mos old, only fusses if you don't get it – I guess it runs in the family.

It's still early out here, and the little guy isn't up, so I will get out on the road and will update you more when I find a moment with my machine.