Letters

Testing for ADHD is a complicated issue. I probably have done thousands of them over the years. I am less enthusiastic about doing them now. Often these referrals are generated by a physician or other prescriber who needs backup, documentation, or reassurance before prescribing a stimulant. Hence these referrals have a risk management, rather than scientific, qualit--taking on that task is not a particularly  rewarding or good practice. To some extent, that role subordinates psychologists to a rubber stamping function. A quality  report, thought out and nuanced, with personality features, is really not wanted. Many that I read seem to have a perfunctory quality. Also, many clients seem interested in only getting the diagnosis, without interest in the nuances--it is seen as a yes/no evaluation, and testing becomes less the valuable exercise of logically finding the diagnosis, but a form of rubber stamping for a referral source or client that is expecting or hoping for a certain outcome.