Today or yesterday's Hate Mail (DW spotted article in the rag at my father's house and I didn't note what day it was from) featured something that could arguably be called an article by someone called Hitchins. In his article he did not state it was his opinion but that it was a "FACT" that ADHD doesn't exist and that shrinks and doctors are ripping people off. He then went on to attack Ben Goldacre (not by name but by profession) for not having exposed this horror.
OK. Does anyone know who this journalist is? What are his clinical and psychiatric qualifications to make this statement? What double-blind studies has he done in this area? Has he published reviews of other people's work to support his conclusions? What is his standing amongst his peers as a scientist?
This is an incredible break-through he has made and it will fundamentally change everything. He claims that ADHD is caused by bad parenting! Wow, imagine what we can do now we know that.
Alternatively he is a lying little shit with no comprehension of what he is talking about and his pathetic little rant has the potential to endanger a huge amount of children. Getting understanding of conditions like ADHD, dyspraxia and Asperger's syndrome is difficult enough.
I'm not saying I necessarily agree with Ritalin. Unlike Mr Hitchin I don't claim to be an expert but here is one small thing to consider... if a drug acts as a stimulant to a large percentage of the population but as a depressant to those with an identified condition doesn't that kinda suggest the condition exists? It doesn't mean the pills are the best thing to take, that isn't my debate or point here, far from it I really don't want to get into that. My issue is with someone with no qualifications, expertise or experience denying the existence of something that is an everyday reality to a great many people.
Now if he is an expert then I'll want to see his research.
...talking of which he lays down a challenge to those who expose "bad science" to expose this... when he presents no facts, talks of no studies and presents a subjective opinion as an objective one... exactly the sort of thing Ben Goldacre and others attack!
So... am I wrong about this Hitchin guy, is he an expert in his field?
What do you think about the presentation of unsubstantiated opinions as facts in a national newspaper?