I was "prescribed" with ADD as a child and given ritalin, but I'm not sure if I actually had it. As a data point, it allowed me to focus on whatever my teacher said with almost no effort.
As a more general point, some kids in college take ritalin to help them in classes. This would indicate that it does cause that behavior in a significant portion of the population.
I was "prescribed" with ADD as a child and given ritalin
I think you may have been "diagnosed" with ADD and "prescribed" ritalin.
I've long had attention and focus problems, but never explored the possibility that I have ADHD till recently. I understand that it's a standard term, but I'm still a bit suspicious; Psychiatry doesn't seem like the most reliable field.
Are there good reasons for picking out the behaviors associated with ADHD and giving them a name? Obviously this is a different question than whether ADHD is a 'disorder' or 'disease', and whether ADHD medication is good or bad for people.
Answers that would satisfy me