Is ADHD/ADD Overdiagnosed in America?

Recommend (3) Comments (2)

We should be clear from the start that having a disease or a disorder means one has an objective physical abnormality. The first obligation of all physicians is that of diagnosis. The first question posed by the duty to diagnose is: Is there a physical abnormality—gross (a visible or palpable lump), microscopic (cancer cells of biopsy or ‘Pap’ smear), or chemical (as in diabetes, gout, phenylketonuria), yes or no? If “no,” there is no disease and the patient is medically, physically normal. It is this group, those with “no evidence of disease” (NED) from which all psychiatric and psychological patients derive. The public worldwide has been deceived and mislead for decades on this fundamental point that is well known to physicians. No patient with ADHD or with any psychological or psychiatric entity has an actual disease. Physicians telling them they do knowingly deceive them abrogate their right to informed consent, and drug normal individuals, that is, poison them. This is the standard of care in psychiatry today. NICE addresses the “disease” vs. “no disease,” physical vs. psychiatric issue stating, “the disorder remains one that is defined at a behavioral level, and its presence does not imply a neurological disease” (p. 17) [1]. Using the term “disorder” which is synonymous with disease, meaning “A disturbance of function, structure or both,” NICE sews the seeds of confusion that for decades has lead patients and the public worldwide to view ADHD and all psychiatric and psychological entities as diseases when they absolutely are not [2]. Having called ADHD a “disorder” NICE stated: “The diagnosis of ADHD does not imply a medical or neurological cause” (p. 29) [1]. Given that ADHD is not a disease or a disorder, it is not appropriate to speak of it’s possible medical or neurological causes. In medicine when no disease has been found the diagnosis is “no organic disease” (NOD), or “no evidence of disease” (NED), calling for no discussion of causation. To discuss cause where no disease exists is to further mislead and confuse.