ADD World and the Adderall Explosion

The prevalence of real ADD is about 1 or 2% of children and half as many adults, but 10% of American children and adults are diagnosed with the condition; the rest of the world is catching up. How to explain the disparity? It's because the symptoms of ADD, especially problems with focus and concentration, are remarkably common. In children, ADD is usually a personality trait or a transient developmental variation. Attention problems are ubiquitous in people with anxiety or OC. In adults, ADD symptoms arise from role overload, even when all the roles are chosen freely and bring us satisfaction. They also occur in connection with sleep deprivation, de-conditioning or stress, or from overwork, especially when we don't like what our jobs make us do. ADD symptoms also occur in patients with several different medical problems. They are a part of menopause and normal ageing. People who have mild problems with concentration or mental fatigue are likely to be told they have ADD and are given an amphetamine like Adderall or Vyvance. Such treatment may or may not be effective. They are is usually safe, but not always. It's time to inject some common sense into ADD World. I'll do that by telling you about the patients we see. They are children and adults who really have ADD and children and adults who don't. They are people who really need a stimulant drug and those who don't but take them anyway. This small book is about difficulties confronting clinicians who tend to those 15 million Americans and want to do the right thing.