Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the Six Types of ADD

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: 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 Good Start
Review: Through his groundbreaking research Dr. Amen, a well-respected psychiatrist, demonstrates that ADD/ADHD is a neurological disorder, which can be positively identified using brain imaging. Although some experts in the field may take exception to his characterization of different ADD/ADHD sub-types (since we have always identified many of those sub-types as co morbid disorders existing with ADD), he makes a valuable contribution to our understanding and therefore treatment of ADD/ADHD. Surprisingly, by identifying each of the sub-types, he makes medication recommendations, which have been used by many doctors for years, they just never called it what Dr. Amen does. A good read for struggling parents of ADD/ADHD kids who are not responding to standard stimulant medications and those wishing broader and more diverse knowledge of the field.
Ali Hashemian, Ph.D.

Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking, but unfortunately way ahead of the times...
Review: While the work in this book is excellent and the research both compelling and well defined, the techniques have yet to be approved as "standard diagnostics and treatment". This means the tests are not covered by many (most?) insurance plans -- especially not HMO's.

I work with one of the Dr. resources mentioned in the back of the book, but the HMO, Kaiser, he works for refuses to allow the studies (even though they have all the equipment in most of their facilities). However, they don't have the 3-D modeling software which _appears_ to be patented by Amen who has a financial interest keeping the process proprietary and expensive (like any good capitalist). While the scan itself might only "cost" $500, or less if the equipment and procedures were widely available, the interpretation of the data in a meaningful way for treatment has to be paid for out of pocket to the tune of $1500-$3000 dollars.

Psychology, as a field, is still in the early 20th century as far as diagnostics. I saw several Kaiser Psychiatrists who were incompetent in diagnosing my ADHD because it was of a particular subtype that they were not familiar with and is, according to my doctor, difficult to diagnose and treat.

It could be another 15 years or more, my MD estimates, before such tests are considered mainstream diagnostic tools. Most psych's, I have found, are woefully underinformed when it comes to Adult AD[H]D and are prejudiced against diagnosing it due to the perceived "abuse" threat of the medications -- even though it's fairly well known that the major sources of amphetamines on the street come from large scale batches mixed up in people's bathtubs. Prescriptions for AD[H]D as a source for amphetamine abuse are a red herring (this from my doctor who has worked with the author of the book).

If you can get your psych to read the book and get your carrier to cover the tests, it can help everyone...

Amazonian Denizen