How do I know if I have ADHD?
One of the more challenging aspects of my my work as a psychiatrist is when patients with good intentions come in to the office with a self-diagnosis of ADHD. They are completely convinced after answering an online questionnaire!
Although these lists are helpful for self awareness and taking an inventory of one’s behavioral patterns and thoughts, they must in no way be confused with the process of diagnosis. Diagnosis criteria in medicine and psychiatry utilizes guidelines for medical history taking as well as a physical and mental status examination by a trained clinician with years of experience.
The danger of checklist medical diagnosis are considerable.Inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity as core symptoms of ADHD could be caused or related to many other conditions including hormonal, structural, stress and mood related conditions. So do a thorough job finding a skilled physician, and allow her to assess your symptoms within the context of her training and experience.
9 months ago
It's okay to feel anxious,sad and restless these days! It might point you to some corners of your mind and psyche that need working on. If you are a human anywhere on this planet you feel the unset...
2 years ago
67.4% of my patients have an addiction to porn. OK, I made up the precise statistic to get your attention; I just meant a significant subgroup! Pornography activates the novelty-seeking pathways in...
2 years ago
When I was a resident physician in training, I remember my excitement in mastering the principles of psychopharmacology. I was so eager to diagnose patients" problems and apply the right treatment....
5 months ago
Are you tired of reading self-help books about anxiety management that do not help? Have you been in therapy for years without any sustainable benefits? Are you afraid of dependence on psychiatric...
2 years ago
Many people erroneously believe that being treated for depression means sacrificing a normal sex life. It is true that some antidepressants could impair libido and orgasmic phase of sexual activity...
2 years ago
Recently a patient whom I had not seen for almost a year showed up in my office demanding that her antidepressant prescriptions be filled for another year. She made it clear that she had no interes...