ok .....so im only newly diagnosed, so really this could be a dumb question.

(is there any such thing as a "dumb" question.....or it only dumb if you want to know something but dont have the balls to ask someone?).... sorry tangent....

.....I have been reading up everything i can on ADD, like a sponge you could say... 42 years being undiagnosed, im sort of in a bit of a hurry to get this sorted, if you get my drift. I have come across some descriptions of ADD being a "neurological condition", and a "neuropsychotic condtion".
I have also read that its a good idea to "separate your neurology from your psychology"..... i think Sari Solden said that. So... what do the BIG BRAINS think???? Personally ive always been pretty facsinacted by all things BRAIN, its such an UNTAPPED part of us.......


peace and love, rabbit

hey brownrabbit,

I'm 45 and was diagnosed with AD/HD 7 1/2 years ago. And I would not call AD/HD a mental illness. It is a neurobiological disorder which also happens to have a high rate of comorbidities, so it's always likely that a person with AD/HD may have other disorders as well, me being a prime example.

AD/HD is more of a cognitive disorder, rather than a mental or emotional disorder. And by disorder, I mean an abnormality in the brain. It is often referred to as a developmental disorder, meaning that the brain did not develop as it normally would. Autism and mental retardation are other examples of developmental disorders, though they bear little resemblance to AD/HD for the exception of being a developmental issue.

To the best of my knowledge, it is caused by an underactivity in the prefrontal cortex (the seat of our executive functions), among other possible parts of the brain. The neurotransmitter, dopamine, seems to have the effect of aleviating symptoms of AD/HD. Dopamine levels in the brain are most commonly increased by stimulant medication.

I hope that goes towards answering your questions.

It depends who you are asking. :)

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In terms of disability benefits, probably not. (Unless there are serious co-existing conditions.)

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In North America, a phrase is used which describes SOME mental conditions as "SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS".

These tend to be the conditions that are considered crippling and permanent mental health disabilities.

Examples would include: schizophrenia, some of the bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders.

e.g. conditions where the people get so sick that they lose functioning in all or most life domains (work, social, economic).

I don't know... Autism usually is not considered to be a mental illness, and it can have a major impact on one's life. I think the difference here is that the illness is something of an acquired sort (i.e. not born with). Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities are usually categorized as developmental disorders, though they have different manifestations.

^^ nicely put

I don't know... Autism usually is not considered to be a mental illness, and it can have a major impact on one's life. I think the difference here is that the illness is something of an acquired sort (i.e. not born with). Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities are usually categorized as developmental disorders, though they have different manifestations.

That make sense things that do not occur at a realtively young age could be thought of as acquired.

But extreme variations in thyroid levels can make people "crazy". The mechanism triggering hypothyroidism is often autoimmunial. Which makes hypothyroidism oddly more similar to arthritis than "a mental disorder"

Personally I think there are physical mechanism that predispose a person to
acquired mental health problems also. Its really semantics I guess and the negative connotation the words "mental Illiness" has that people have a problem with. I have no problem with the words as long as its used with the understanding that nature is the primary factor in play not nuture.

Personally I think there are physical mechanism that predispose a person to
acquired mental health problems also. Its really semantics I guess and the negative connotation the words "mental Illiness" has that people have a problem with. I have no problem with the words as long as its used with the understanding that nature is the primary factor in play not nuture.

Yes... I agree, it is mainly semantics. Though, I think there are some clear differences at some ends. For example, the symptoms of schizophrenia usually aren't considered a part of normal development -- as in, individuals aren't born in an extremely delusional state, at least to the point where it's outwardly obvious, though for the symptoms of ADHD, this is true, as attention span and executive functions improve with development in most, if not all individuals. Likewise, being depressed at a young age (as a baby) and then becoming less depressed as time goes on does not describe normal development. Hence, a developmental disorder describes something that might be commonly thought to be normal at a particular age or development stage, but not normal at the stage that one is supposed to be at.

Just read the OP again:

"Neuropsychotic" condition?

Huh?

No, ADD is not a psychosis.

I think, according to ADA standards, a disability must be (and I quote from their site) "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of his/her major life activities". Major life activities are those things like learning, working and caring for one's self.

By the way, brownrabbit, I'm just like you, very fascinated with the brain and its workings.

I have come across some descriptions of ADD being a "neurological condition", and a "neuropsychotic condtion".


D) none of the above - neurobiological difference


It is considered a disorder because it decreases our ability to function in present day society - however as a "disorder" it is contextual.


Unlike schizophrenia it doesn't develop over time although symptoms may become more noticeable as one grow older due to increase responsibilities and social expectations. ADD isn't progressive - like bipolar or arthritis.

Thanks all, im fascinated by this, and have an annoying "need to know stuff brain", (i wonder if its an ADD trait?) Im not sure i can fully articulate the exact issue i am struggling with here. Often i have a struggle with a concept, and i get a "feeling" surrounding this concept, but i can't fully express it in words. I suspect this may be ADD at play... i end up in such a complex weave of tangents that seem to stretch for miles in my head, and im finding Ritalin is making that even more so. I even end up thinking alot about thinking......I wonder if i had of been diagnosed earlier if i would have become a great thinker? I feel alot smarter on ritalin, alot more depth to my thoughts. My pdoc said that was part of the job of the drug, im really enjoying my chats with him also, i just feel like a big sponge.............SORRY ALL TANGENTS......

BTW I love love love, that we have a safe, friendly, and non-judgemental place we can all dicusss and debate issues, and that the wiser ADDers and so generous with their time and knowledge, i love learning from others, i think in some way that is what life is all about.......

ok so a bit more on this discussion, apologies in advance for my clumsy articulation.....

i think im trying to work out what ADD is , and what it is not..... AND what we have control over and what we can only simply manage. Also the relationship between the neurotransmitters (chemicals) and our thinking and.... what do these drugs, stims, actually do?? I mean im finding alot more benefits apart from being awake and more focussed......

......Oh and BTW, the OP. i think i got that "neuropsychotic" bit wrong, i think the term i read somewhere was... "neuro psychiatric"

Reading back im not sure if im making any sense what so ever.... or maybe thats just my crappy self esteem from 42 undiagnosed years looking over my shoulder...


happy tangent building....


rabbit with the spongy brain:p

Hi,
The description I like best and that has ruled my like is that ADD is a "context Disorder". Similar to being in a foreign land and not speaking the language. You will not function as efficiently as a native speaker. The other example I've heard is me 5'6" trying to play basketball surrounded by 6'5" players.
On the other hand I did well in underground bunkers where 6'5" soldiers were cursing their way to hell. I did laugh a lot.
I have made my career choices with this in mind. Play to your strengths. I like computers and activ life so I joined the U.S Army Signal Corps. After retirement I went into teaching at a Tech College to avoid boring detailed paperwork.
So "Context Disorder" made sense to me and guided my life. Do what you are good at. That is what worked for me this last 30 years.

Hyperkinectivity as child/ ADD primarily inattentive as "Adult".

Enjoy, Ken

Organization is for people too lazy to find things...

Just read the OP again:

"Neuropsychotic" condition?

Huh?

No, ADD is not a psychosis.

I'm guessing the OP meant to say neuropsychiatric instead of neuropsychotic condition. It was probably just a typo. :)

Lots of medical conditions have evolutionary explanations. Take sickle-cell anemia, for example. A person who carries both alleles for the condition gets the illness, but a person who carries only one is resistant to malaria. Consider how disease affects populations, not individuals.
We all know that ADD has some benefits - creativity, for example. It may be that populations with genes associated with ADD get some benefit from it. Perhaps they produce, on average, more original thinkers than populations that do not.

Everybody is insane. It is just that those who do not conform to that standard are locked up. :p

All things are relative I'd say. There is probably a wide variability between the extremely linear on the one hand and the extremely chaotic on the other.

I will not deny the fact that neurological conditions exist, but I would never describe the ADHD population at large as suffering from a mental Illness. Well, suffering maybe, but illness definitely not.

My CBTherapist asked me this - or rather she thought it was a neurological complaint and thus not to be pegged as a mental illness.

I kinda agree with her - it is a neurology thang but isn't treated by the neurology department of medecine (not in the UK) but by the mental health people. Here mental health deal with any behavioural condition so we get lumped into that group even though it's not strictly correct.

It's a turf war. The neurologists don't want us (can't open up the brain and sort it out) and the psychiatric department doesn't want us either (too much trouble) but since they're the junior service they got the ****ty stick.

I actually was quite surprised when my DD's doctor, upon suspecting that I have ADHD too, referred me to the neurologist rather than a psychiatrist. I knew from experience that a psych would have had me medicated for anxiety and depression, but likely not ADHD. The neurologist had be all set and rx written within 30 minutes.