A psychiatrist warns against wastefulness and self-diagnosis of ADHD

The head of the entity, psychiatrist Julio Dutra, warns of the problems and difficulties that self-diagnosis causes to people who search for information on the Internet

Downplaying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), whose date is remembered on July 13, is one of the concerns of the Associação Paranaense de Psiquiatria (APPsiq). The head of the entity, psychiatrist Julio Dutra, warns of the problems and difficulties caused by the self-diagnosis of people, who seek information on the Internet instead of searching for specialists, in addition to hearing “pitacos” from everyone, such as coaches, physical trainers, personal trainers, teachers, tutors and others of professionals.

“It has become a very mundane thing. Everyone thinks they have the knowledge to talk about the disorder and decide whether or not the person should take medication. ADHD has acquired a connotation like bipolar and depressive, that is, everyone has bipolar disorder and everyone has depression.” Julio Dutra warns. According to the head of APPsiq, self-diagnosis by searching for information on the Internet hinders true diagnosis and delays treatment for many patients. “It is important to seek qualified professional help,” says the expert.

Data from the Brazilian Attention Deficit Association (ABDA) indicate that the incidence of ADHD is between 5% and 8% in the world. It is estimated that 70% of children with this disorder continue to have some other type of comorbidity, and 10% have three or more comorbidities. Among the main symptoms are inattention, agitation and impulsiveness, in addition to the fact that today it is known that the origin of the disorder is neurobiology and genetics. This means that approximately 30% of children have one or both parents with the disorder.

The psychiatrist’s concern is that people, in general, are being fooled by others who don’t have enough training to diagnose ADHD. “The internet is full of influencers and coaches promising miraculous advice and cures, joking about behaviors, and even offering quick tests so that a person can find out in a few minutes whether they have this disorder or not. This is an understatement of a serious and important disorder, which deserves individual attention and research. the deepest”, assesses Julio Dutra.

According to the head of APPsiq, the diagnosis of ADHD takes into account not only different information, but also assessments by various professionals, so that the disorder is actually diagnosed. “Professionals who are qualified to diagnose ADHD are physicians who prescribe medications and refer them to other professionals to work together,” stresses Julio Dutra.

The psychiatrist warns that “number of followers does not imply credibility or competence for a diagnosis of ADHD” and notes that a person with the disorder has traits of forgetfulness, difficulty with regulation, restlessness or impulsiveness. It is a neurobiological disorder characterized by difficulty paying attention to details and tasks, even if they are routine. “Because of the many characteristics involved, the diagnosis passes an assessment, at the very least, by a psychiatrist or a neurologist, taking into account the assessment of the psychiatrist. Under any circumstances, a diagnosis can only be made on the basis of information from the Internet or on miraculous advice or rapid tests.

For an effective diagnosis, it is also necessary to take into account a conversation with the patient and his family members, an assessment of complaints, complaints and what losses have been experienced, as well as an exclusion diagnosis. “Then the doctor will be able to determine the best treatment or medication,” says Julio Dutra.