Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking book
Review: Healing ADD is an intriguing, thought provoking book that leads someone - like me, who fits the characteristics of ADD - to have a better perspective on the topic. I've always been a terribly slow reader; it takes me around 5 minutes to read one page in a book - even if the material is very interesting to me. Unfortunately the school system stopped trying to work with the problem after elementary school, and instead threw me into "LD" classes.
However, I practice the art of skepticism; therefore, I decided to write an e-mail to Stephen Barrett, M.D (aka founder of Quackwatch). Here was his response: "If his SPECT notions had a genuine basis, every doctor would be using the test. ADD is not a fraud. Some teachers and parents over-diagnose it, but psychiatrists rarely do that. Nor is there evidence that Ritalin is over-prescribed as its critics contend."
If Dr. Amen is reading this critique, he might want to take Dr. Barrett's comment to heart, and try to make this more mainstream. For all we know, Dr. Amen might actually have something that could literally change - dare I say improve - the field of psychology.
Rating: 
Summary: Questionable research, equivocation-from a reviewer with ADD
Review: This book was a big disappointment. Using brain scanning imagery AMEN has deduced that there are six types of ADD. I find his taxonomy very questionable, and while I don't object to anecdotal evidence to support medical views, Amen turns very slight differences in behavior into major types of diagnoses. The descriptions of the various types interweave to the point that the differences among them are very slight. Why six? Why not 60? Amen's selective perception seems to be pseudo-science reductionist claptrap to me. I have ADD, and as I studied the traits of each one of Amen's categories, it seemed that I was a likely candidate for five of the six. His suggestions regarding diet are laughable: he recommends a healthy well balanced diet as a component to "healing" ADD. Well, now isn't that the most innovative idea about improving one's health: a good diet?!?!?! Thanks to psychostimulants I have been able to completely change my life in ways that at one time would have seemed miraculous. At times, I still feel it is miraculous. But I would never say I am "healed." The term in the title seems to be more marketing ploy than accurate empirical statement. I do recommend the book SCATTERED by Gabor Mate, a physician with ADD. That book is far more informed, holistic, thoughtful, incisive. It is also very well written. The style and methodology of Amen's book makes the DSM-IV seem as though it were written by God him/herself.
Rating: 
Summary: A gold mine of information
Review: This book is the most comprehensive source of information on ADD available.The basis of the treatment techniques, SPECT scans, is also revolutionary in its approach and nearly self-evident. This approach of examining both patients' histories and SPECT scans at the same time is obviously an effective means of targeting not only the specific type of ADD (Dr. Amen has categorized 6 types) but also recognizing other disorders that may cause confusion about the ultimate diagnosis. His work is the tip of the iceberg in diagnosing and finding successful treatments for ADD, anxiety, depression, violent behaivors, Alzeheimer's, obsessive disorders, manic disorders, head-injury related disorders, substance abuse disorders, dementia, and many other brain-related disorders. It is loaded with information. Many professionals would do well to not only ready but study the information. This book can be considered a companion to "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life."
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