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Why Are ADHD Rates So Much Higher in the U.S.?

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Re: Why Are ADHD Rates So Much Higher in the U.S.?

#41
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, so then "ADHD genes" are only correlated! (You'd said, "it's [ADHD] very highly inherited" -- which sounds declaratively causal. But if you didn't mean this as a causal statement, then cool. No worries.)

It depends if you want to be ackshualy technically correct or conversation correct. We won't confirm causality until we flip people's genes to give them ADHD or describe the whole exact interaction at whole-organism level, so practically... never. On the other hand, for normal purposes, we know it's inheritable. You'd need to discover some whole new mechanism for how diseases could possibly transmit to prove otherwis…

Conversational or otherwise, you keep saying it's inheritable but these "ADHD genes" are only correlated with increased risk, not predictability. That's key, because one is nature, the other nurture.

Also, proving a correlation doesn't necessarily mean it's exclusively, automatically the only variable. That's the tricky bit with confounding variables: they could be one of several, or many, correlative effects, and where none could be the cause -- much less a useful avenue of solution. It's helpful, but not conclusive.

Great, we found some genes. But other studies should also look at psychotherapy, or even diaphragmatic breathing (asthma is another great example). Alternative analysis, i.e. anything other than the most lucrative option for pharmas to sell drugs -- as in, alternative solutions that are closer to the root cause, not just the most complicated.

Re: Why Are ADHD Rates So Much Higher in the U.S.?

#42
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's both over and under diagnosed. But you're overplaying some areas like people have no idea what they're doing. For example: > Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet or squirms in seat This is not describing typical kid behaviour, but self-stimulation. They're massively different. There's normally a follow-up discussion about the answers to that basic questionnaire. If you watched that talk, take a moment to fol…

Dr. Barkley's counterargument is essentially "it's preposterous to suggest that ADHD isn't well defined ... because clearly it is well defined," but that's a circular argument -- and still conflates "diagnosis" with "loose pattern of symptoms". He seems to get a bit emotional and take things personally; as if merely questioning the status quo of drugging kids implies that he is a bad person. Though we can't blame ind…

> Let's be explicitly clear, they're amphetamine salts; we're drugging kids with amphetamine uppers.

If it saves them becoming smokers later, then good.

The reality is that people with ADHD will just medicate with other more harmful, more addictive stimulants like nicotine.

I'm willing to wager that a large reason why we "see" ADHD more is because we have less self-medication. Smoking is out of fashion. I'm sure in, say, the 70s it was trivial to be a high-functioning person with ADHD and never know it. I mean, every other person was smoking - you fit right in.

Re: Why Are ADHD Rates So Much Higher in the U.S.?

#43
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They literally pay for you to use a private clinic to ensure everyone can be assessed quickly. ADHD is legally protected and recognised. Lumping it in with most of Asia is ridiculous.

Where in the NHS is that? Maybe just an English thing. I had to go private on my own dime and thankfully my GP took over prescribing, which is uncommon and becoming increasingly so. They also put me on the NHS waiting list, back when you could still get on it without being severe, and it was only last week I had my appointment almost 4 years after being put on the list.

It's called Right to Choose and it may be England only. The NHS waiting list here is also over 3 years!
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