by Sergio Silva, M.D.

Created on: August 20, 2009

How To Know If You've Been Misdiagnosed With "Adult" Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD, or ADHD-the H stands for hyperactivity, which may or may not be present) is a fad diagnosis in the U.S. By this I mean that, while ADD/ADHD is certainly a valid condition suffered by some individuals who require treatment for it in order to be able to function to their fullest capacity, there is also what I call an epidemic of public awareness regarding the condition that has led more people than ever before to wonder if they suffer from it, and after a little lay research, into thinking that they do, in fact, "have it."

These individuals then present to mental healthcare professionals reporting symptoms that are certainly consistent with ADD-mainly difficulty concentrating and getting things done-and more often than not, unfortunately, they end up diagnosed by well-meaning clinicians with a condition for which in many cases they do not, in actuality, need treatment. Bipolar disorder is another condition that is exceedingly over-diagnosed these days; the difference is that few individuals seek out a doctor to confirm a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, whereas many more people hear or read about ADD and convince themselves, and ultimately a prescribing practitioner, that they need treatment with stimulant medications.

This article is based on my personal experience evaluating and treating individuals who have presented complaining of inattention, specifically "Adult ADD."

Adult ADD vs. ADHD. One thing worth noting: there is no actual separate condition for adults as opposed to children; the term "Adult ADD" was coined to refer to adults who suffer from ADD because the disorder is one of childhood. That is, it presents very early in life as hyperactivity, inattention and/or impulsivity and tends to improve as a child matures (especially the hyperactive component, if it is present to begin with).

It is so principally a pediatric condition, in fact, that in the past, few individuals with bona fide ADHD who had been diagnosed in grade school or earlier and who had benefitted from treatment remained on medication into adulthood. For one thing, the hyperactive, "bouncing off the walls" component is just not seen in adults, who are better able and more inclined to control their physical behavior; moreover, even inattention often improves enough with age that in the past, most of these individuals were not treated into adulthood,

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