I’ve received a number of positive responses to this ADHD blog and suggestions for future postings. Here are a few questions that prospective patients wrote in:

1) My doctor thinks I have ADHD and suggested that I see a psychiatrist. My friend has ADHD and is recommending that I see a psychiatric nurse practitioner instead. What’s the difference between the two?

Both psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners can assess, diagnose, give treatment and prescribe medication for ADD and ADHD in Portland OR. The key might be to find a practitioner that specializes in ADD and ADHD which may be difficult in Portland as some have closed their practice, are not taking new patients, do not accept insurance, or are several months out in scheduling. Some of my patients have indicated that they prefer psych nurse practitioners over psychiatrists because of the more holistic approaches to patient care, but that is very much an individual choice.

2) I’ve heard some people call it ADD while others call it ADHD. Which one is more accurate?

For many years there was both ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). As the names indicate the difference between those two is the hyperactive component. Now, we simply have one diagnosis with many sub-headings and the old ADD is now referred to as ADHD-predominantly inattentive type. In the near future there will be another change in the DSM (diagnostic and statistical manual) to make those distinctions between the different forms of ADHD/ADD more understandable.

3) I read an article in the local paper where some college student indicated that stimulants were over prescribed, that he could get them easily on campus, and that some doctors were giving them out like candy. Is this true?

While I couldn’t speak to that student, nor to his specific college, stimulants are classified by the DEA (drug enforcement agency) as a Schedule-II narcotic and subject to intense scrutiny and monitoring. The dispensing of these medications illegally is a felony as is selling or possessing them without a prescription. The DEA takes this very seriously and penalties for the prescriber could range from losing ones’ license to practice, being sued, and for both the practitioner and student having to pay large fines or even imprisonment. This is why I get many referrals from local Portland Oregon area primary care physicians and other health care practitioners about their patients who may have ADHD because they might not have a specialization in this area. I do not know of any doctors, psychiatrists, or psychiatric nurse practitioners that are dispensing stimulants in a cavalier fashion.

Thanks for your questions. I welcome your thoughts, comments or suggestions. If you or someone you know can relate to any of this information, please consult with an ADHD specialist for assessment, diagnosis and treatment.