Review of Odd Lots - Adderall/ADHD Episode

Adderall/ADHD Episode

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“This one really went off the rails. Finding another guest who does preface unchallenged fringe ideas about adhd diagnosis, adderall, and psychiatry with “adderall and adhd diagnosis are not my realm of expertise” would give listeners a clearer picture of these subjects! Prof Carr claiming the validity of ADHD as a psychiatric diagnosis is “quite contested” (by whom?) and that ADHD is “not a robust disease entity at all” hinges on the idea that psychiatric illness as a concept is illegitimate. The DSM-5 and Prof Carr’s preferred ICD-11 are clear that ADHD is legitimate in so far as psychiatry and medicine are legitimate. Using the lack of “neurobiological basis” to discredit any illness (as Prof Carr points out, there is no “blood test” for any psychiatric illness) gives license to people in positions of power to question things like workplace accommodations and to suggest as Joe and Tracy did that people prescribed these medications are unfairly advantaged. Longstanding disparities in health, social, and economic outcomes faced by people all over the world (yes, even outside the US) living with ADHD refute this idea. A clear relationship between standard ADHD treatments and “punding” or other neuro/cardiotoxic side effects does not exist, and theoretical risks can be managed with low-cost monitoring (yearly blood pressure checks, side effect check-ins, etc). Caffeine is also a dopaminergic and sympathomimetic drug, and long-term moderate/heavy use among otherwise physically healthy people is not associated with negative neurologic or cardiac outcomes. It’s very possible the same is true for the doses of stimulant prescribed for ADHD. Prof Carr mentions risk of amphetamines potentiating addictive behaviors, but substantial evidence people diagnosed with ADHD face elevated risk of substance use disorders at baseline muddies any causal relationship between stimulant use and internet addiction. Sharing literature showing increased risk of internet addiction among people taking stimulants to treat their ADHD vs people diagnosed with ADHD who are not on medication would be a start here. Prof Carr suggests it is a “clinically documented fact” that stimulant effectiveness is not different between people who have ADHD and those who do not. People without ADHD may find themselves more motivated and focused on stimulants, this should surprise no one. This point of these medications is to help people who are (as determined by clinicians through assessment strategies not mentioned in the podcast that amount to much more than “vibes”) suffering severely from an inability to maintain focus/motivation. Preventing/treating psychiatric illnesses writ large obviously relies on structural social changes outside of the clinic. However, evidence is very clear that stimulant medications can dramatically improve quality of life with low risk for intolerable short or long term side effects for people living with ADHD. This episode makes the work of tempering longstanding stigmatization people with ADHD and their healthcare providers face all the more challenging.”

condormke via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 04/22/24

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Frugal asssasin via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 01/05/21

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GUCCI POODLE via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 11/28/19

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