ADHD Does Not Exist

In this groundbreaking and controversial book, behavioral neurologist Richard Saul, MD, draws on five decades of experience treating patients labeled with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder to come to a startling conclusion: ADHD is not a condition on its own, but rather a symptom complex caused by more than twenty separate conditions—from poor eyesight and giftedness to bipolar disorder and depression—each requiring its own specific treatment.

Synthesizing in-depth scientific research and real-life stories from his patients, Dr. Saul offers help and clear advice for doctors, practitioners, educators, and the parents of some 6.4 million children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder—a 53 percent rise in the past decade. Drugs like Adderall or Ritalin are being prescribed with alarming regularity, often to detrimental effect. And while the symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity are all too real for these individuals, ADHD is frequently not the answer. Authoritative and accessible, ADHD Does Not Exist is sure to become the handbook for anyone confronted with a possible diagnosis.

In this groundbreaking and controversial book, behavioral neurologist Dr. Richard Saul draws on five decades of experience treating thousands of patients labeled with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder-one of the fastest growing and widely diagnosed conditions today-to argue that ADHD is actually a cluster of symptoms stemming from over 20 other conditions and disorders. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 6.4 million children between the ages of four and seventeen have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While many skeptics believe that ADHD is a fabrication of drug companies and the medical establishment, the symptoms of attention-deficit and hyperactivity are all too real for millions of individuals who often cannot function without treatment. If ADHD does not exist, then what is causing these debilitating symptoms? Over the course of half a century, physician Richard Saul has worked with thousands of patients demonstrating symptoms of ADHD. Based on his experience, he offers a shocking conclusion: ADHD is not a condition on its own, but rather a symptom complex caused by over twenty separate conditions-from poor eyesight and giftedness to bipolar disorder and depression-each requiring its own specific treatment. Drawing on in-depth scientific research and real-life stories from his numerous patients, ADHD Does not Exist synthesizes Dr. Saul's findings, and offers and clear advice for everyone seeking answers.