The "triad"

[blahman8000]

My apologies if this has been covered in a different thread, but I ran a search and couldn't come up with anything.

My psychiatrist has a theory (whether it's his own or one he picked up on from another researcher/doctor, I don't know) associated with ADHD. It includes obsessive thinking, cyclic mood disorder, and, of course, ADHD. Does anybody find any validity in this idea? Has anyone else ever heard of it? I've noticed, in myself, all three to varying degrees, and I'm wondering if others experience the same kind of issues.

[meridian]

Sounds like me -- at least before Strattera.

Oh, and welcome to the Forums!

[ginniebean]

Originally Posted by blahman8000

My apologies if this has been covered in a different thread, but I ran a search and couldn't come up with anything.

My psychiatrist has a theory (whether it's his own or one he picked up on from another researcher/doctor, I don't know) associated with ADHD. It includes obsessive thinking, cyclic mood disorder, and, of course, ADHD. Does anybody find any validity in this idea? Has anyone else ever heard of it? I've noticed, in myself, all three to varying degrees, and I'm wondering if others experience the same kind of issues.

Frankly this makes me nervous. To me this sounds dangerously close to 'cure' thinking or 'magical cocktail' thinking. I don't have a 'cyclic mood disorder' and that isn't one of the symptoms of ADHD. As for obsessive thinking that happens under stress, possibly it happens to a greater degree due to emotional dysregulation but it only happens during extreme stress.

Instead of concocting a pet idea it's probably a better idea if he takes a closer look at the research already being done on executive function.

Hey, we're all human and naturally he's going to get ideas, but as a person in a scientific field I do expect that he will do so with the information that's available and not in spite of it.

[mADD mike]

Just from reading here and my own experiences, I'd say that most ADDers seem to have mood regulation problems, and obsession (hyperfocus and impulsivitiy, maybe other terms for such) seems to be part of the deal as well. I can identify with that description.

I think that calling it the "triad" is a bit over the top though, as it just seems to be among the many things that result from having ADD. You could throw in all of the other symptoms and resultant issues, and call it all the "myriad".

In other words, why just focus on those three components when it is so much more?

[blahman8000]

Hey, thanks for the responses.

I do have a pretty bad problem with obsessive thinking, to be honest. Cyclic mood, I'm not so sure. He seems to be basing his findings on this "triad" theory of his on observations he's made on different patients he's treated. But the trouble is that this interpretation of ADHD symptoms seems to lead him to practically identifying all my emotions as the result of some "cyclic mood disorder" and suggesting medication like Lamictal, Depakote, and other mood stabilizers primarily used to treat Bipolar Disorder.

I'm currently on Adderall and it seems to be working well as of now. It wears off halfway through the day though; so instead of taking my full dose; I usually take some when I wake up, and another dose in the afternoon to keep me covered. He wants to keep bumping me up. He says he has one adolescent on 180mg Adderall XR and that he's "just fine." I'm just not sure whether or not this guy is just pushing scripts. Every time I see him and we talk about mood troubles, he mentions this cyclic mood as part of his ADHD "triad." As I understand, what he means is essentially cyclothymia. So he recommends medications for me to try and I'm not sure what to do. I hate the idea of meds.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Basically I'm not sure whether I should trust this guy. He seems alright but I'm not sure how to tell whether a doctor is looking out for my best interest of the interest of a pharmaceutical company.

[ginniebean]

Originally Posted by blahman8000

Hey, thanks for the responses.

I do have a pretty bad problem with obsessive thinking, to be honest. Cyclic mood, I'm not so sure. He seems to be basing his findings on this "triad" theory of his on observations he's made on different patients he's treated. But the trouble is that this interpretation of ADHD symptoms seems to lead him to practically identifying all my emotions as the result of some "cyclic mood disorder" and suggesting medication like Lamictal, Depakote, and other mood stabilizers primarily used to treat Bipolar Disorder.

That's exactly what I suspected. Many Doctors are very familliar with bi-polar and comfortable prescribing that medication even tho it's much less safe than the medication for ADHD.

There is some overlap in symptoms but a trained eye can perceive the difference. I don't know if you're willing to continue with this guy, but his brain child looks like it's very comfortable diagnosis for him and tranquilizing medications for you.

I'm currently on Adderall and it seems to be working well as of now. It wears off halfway through the day though; so instead of taking my full dose; I usually take some when I wake up, and another dose in the afternoon to keep me covered. He wants to keep bumping me up. He says he has one adolescent on 180mg Adderall XR and that he's "just fine." I'm just not sure whether or not this guy is just pushing scripts. Every time I see him and we talk about mood troubles, he mentions this cyclic mood as part of his ADHD "triad." As I understand, what he means is essentially cyclothymia. So he recommends medications for me to try and I'm not sure what to do. I hate the idea of meds.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Basically I'm not sure whether I should trust this guy. He seems alright but I'm not sure how to tell whether a doctor is looking out for my best interest of the interest of a pharmaceutical company.

I can't really tell you much about that amount of adderal and everyone processes the medications differently. It's not that you have to worry about him being interested in the phamaceutical companies but some just seem often too eager to medicate for anything you bring up.

Try and remember that a psychiatrist isn't really someone who does talk therapy, so if you talk they'll get out that prescription pad. Some of them you just have to say, yeah I'm doing fine.. nope.. nothing new to report. And that's the end of that.

[craig0ry]

Originally Posted by ginniebean

Try and remember that a psychiatrist isn't really someone who does talk therapy, so if you talk they'll get out that prescription pad. Some of them you just have to say, yeah I'm doing fine.. nope.. nothing new to report. And that's the end of that.

Quoted for truth!

[blahman8000]

Yeh, that's how I figured it. This is the only psych I've ever had and I can't help but be on guard when he whips out the script pad. My only diagnosis is ADHD (combined) but I've been on a few different kinds of medications (atypical anti-psychotics, Lamictal, Lexapro) for obsessive thinking and cyclic mood disorder (I guess). I do indeed have some trouble with obsessive thinking, but isn't that just the hyperfocusing deal?

He's trying to get into therapy talk with me (well, he calls it therapy), encouraging me to speak my mind about personal issues and such, but it only leads to more questions, 2-3 word responses here and there, and then finally the script pad breaks out for some new medication that I'm totally oblivious to. Maybe you're right, ginniebean.

I appreciate the advice.

[mrs. dobbs]

Originally Posted by ginniebean

That's exactly what I suspected. Many Doctors are very familliar with bi-polar and comfortable prescribing that medication even tho it's much less safe than the medication for ADHD.

Oh my goodness, yes. This is what's happened to me.

I have a similar group of symptoms as blahman but they only want to treat me for those things with near-useless and highly dangerous mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychs, and a.d.'s. I have some mild brain damage now from all the dangerous non-ADD meds.

In 15 years of seeing psychiatrists, and have never been properly treated for ADD even though it was obviously the primary disruptor in my life. In my case, I've been diagnosed with these clusters of one-dimensional of neurotic disorders... I think, so they can give me every med under the sun *except* proper ADD meds.

Thanks for bringing this up.

[daveddd]

Originally Posted by blahman8000

Hey, thanks for the responses.

I do have a pretty bad problem with obsessive thinking, to be honest. Cyclic mood, I'm not so sure. He seems to be basing his findings on this "triad" theory of his on observations he's made on different patients he's treated. But the trouble is that this interpretation of ADHD symptoms seems to lead him to practically identifying all my emotions as the result of some "cyclic mood disorder" and suggesting medication like Lamictal, Depakote, and other mood stabilizers primarily used to treat Bipolar Disorder.

I'm currently on Adderall and it seems to be working well as of now. It wears off halfway through the day though; so instead of taking my full dose; I usually take some when I wake up, and another dose in the afternoon to keep me covered. He wants to keep bumping me up. He says he has one adolescent on 180mg Adderall XR and that he's "just fine." I'm just not sure whether or not this guy is just pushing scripts. Every time I see him and we talk about mood troubles, he mentions this cyclic mood as part of his ADHD "triad." As I understand, what he means is essentially cyclothymia. So he recommends medications for me to try and I'm not sure what to do. I hate the idea of meds.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Basically I'm not sure whether I should trust this guy. He seems alright but I'm not sure how to tell whether a doctor is looking out for my best interest of the interest of a pharmaceutical company.

of course anyone would be "just fine" on 180mg of amphetamine salt

why do you think meth and cocaine are so popular among the mentally disordered

thats well beyond therapeutic

and for my i had to continue to raise my adderrall dose because the effects onlt would stay therapeutic for a couple weeks at a time

but now im on lamactil which isnt dangerous , and about 1/3 of my adderall dose seems to be therapeutic for my adhd symptoms

which leads me to believe enough adderral will fix anything that ails you for a bit

and i think that "obsessive thinking" makes for a good distraction from anxiety, depression adhd , whatever

[arti2010]

I have problems with this "obsessive thinking" I don't know what it is or what it's about, but so far even 60mg of IR Adderall has not helped quiet that part of my brain, seems all it does is help me focus but only a little more... I don't know if that's all I need or not. I don't know what it would feel like to "quite" my brain or if i would even like it... I don't want to be stoned or anything just not thinking quite so much. the thinking constantly I think is what causes my obsessions, I just can't let things go and but stress does seem to make it much worse! If you learn any more about it, or how to help it/calm it down let me know!