Here is an interesting thought if it has not already been posted. I know quite a bit of people out there who are either not diagnosed properly or diagnosed with the wrong disorder.. For example, labeling somebody Bi polar when they are really ADHD/ADD? (Second opinion results).. In todays society does anyone fell that Doctors truly understand what ADD/ADHD? If so does anyone feel they know the difference between the two? More so then not, I find at least from experience that ADHD/ADD is often diagnosed with a series of questions that a lot of people can make up the answers too.. So, this would bring up another concern, how can anyone including doctors tell if someone is faking it or not?

I still haven't met a doctor/shrink who seem to have a lot of knowledge about ADD/ADHD. I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, and took mood stabilizers for four years until they finally discovered that I have ADHD, not bipolar disorder. Shouldn't they have been a bit suspicious, as the mood stabilizers didn't work? I had to fight to get them to believe that I could be diagnosed with the wrong illness. The first shrink I went to told me, after 2 minutes of conversation, that I couldn't possibly have ADHD, as I was reading a book in the waiting room, and people with ADHD aren't able to read, are they?:rolleyes:

I hate to be redundant, but as I've stated before... My opinion is that NO ONE should accept a subjective ADD diagnosis from a shrink or general practicioner who mearly asks them a few questions or gives them a survey to fill out! NO ADD/ADHD rating scale, on-line "test", checklist, survey, or questionnaire has ever been validated, endorsed, or recommended by ANY Local, State, or Federal Government!! PLEASE click here for info on Neuropsychological Evaluation / Testing (http://www.addhealthandwellness.com/faq.php#10)!!!

To get a concreate diagnosis you must see a Neuropsychologist (http://www.tbidoc.com/Appel2.html) for a full barage of tests using DSM-IV criteria to weed out any other variables and get the correct diagnosis!!! To determine anything conclusive, the use of objective testing is mandatory.

It kills me to see SO MANY people self diagnosing or relying on their family doctor or shrink. Can you imagine how MANY people out their are mis-diagnosed or uneccessarily trying med after med for a dysfuntion that they DON'T have?!?!? Or worse yet, never getting the right treatment for the REAL problem, i.e. Bi-polar, dysthymia, etc.
ARG.:(

what kind of Docs are we talking? MDs (medical) or PhDs (psychologists)

How do doctors know if someone really has back pain? Doctors are not psychics, they can only go off on what you tell them along with a few other things depending on what the problem is.