<p>The latest research in ADHD scan studies show a lack on activity in the left side of the pre-frontal cortex. As far as your question goes not everyone can afford these scans to come up with an accurate diagnosis. Also a SPECT scan could show two different patterns in activity if the scan was done more than once. It would have to take numerous scans over time to come up with an accurate diagnosis. That is why it is much easier to be honest about symptoms with a psychiatrist you trust.</p>

<p>David Lopez Blass</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-14T01:17:01.773Z
Adding references to strong claims is important to allow folks to read more on the backgrounds of your answer. -1
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T15:51:42.790Z
As far as I know the predictive power of SPECT and other brain scans [is still too low](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/think-act-be/201605/using-brain-scans-diagnose-mental-disorders) for ADHD or any other major psychiatric disorder.
got trolled too much this week
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-14T00:40:04.063Z
2016-08-01T19:00:09.027Z
2016-08-01T19:00:09.027Z
David Lopez Blass
<p>ADHD is not 'caused' by a brain structure. However, there are observable differences in the brains of ADHD sufferers compared to non-ADHD sufferers.</p>

<p>For example, ADHD sufferers have a disproportionately greater decrease in volume in the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735806000079">left side of the prefrontal cortex</a>, as well as the posterior parietal cortex.</p>

<p>In addition, there is typically a reduction in the number of dopamine receptors, as well as a sensitivity to neurotransmitter activity. Thus, stimulants and cognitive enhancements are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3353150/">often used to treat ADHD</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272832/">This paper</a> does a good, in-depth job of mapping networks and brain connectivity to ADHD. If you were to read it, you might notice a problem -- it isn't the case that there is one 'brain structure' that ADHD sufferers have that non-sufferers do not have, nor is it just one brain structure that is affected. The way that ADHD seems to 'work' in the brain is very complex, and there is still much to be learned about the brain before we can go about diagnosing people based on MRI data.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the line between ADHD and other mental disorders is not clearly drawn. Inattentiveness could stem from depression, trauma, or insomnia, for example. Mania and/or hyperactivity could stem from bipolar disorder or histrionic personality disorder. We are so far from figuring the brain out that we can only rely on context at this point in time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-11T01:41:09.967Z
Not to mention that diagnostic tools for "brain structure" are not exactly cheap or convenient compared to standard diagnostics.
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-20T22:53:24.750Z
Do you think you could expand on your answer to make explicit why/how behavioral symptoms _are_ best for making the diagnosis?
dwjohnston
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-21T00:06:07.850Z
@dwjohnston behavioral symptoms and subjective data are among the only resources we have for diagnosing ADHD in this point in time. It may or may not be the 'best' way; however, it /is/ the most accurate way right now, for the reasons outlined above. Using the brain to diagnose ADHD is about as reliable as using the brain to prove that someone is a 'kind-hearted person'; there are so many varying definitions and perspectives on the term, that it is almost impossible to create an all-encompassing definition. The /only/ somewhat reliable measure we have is behavioral data.
Sydney Maples
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-10T22:25:34.600Z
2015-08-10T22:25:34.600Z
Sydney Maples
<p>My understanding is that people with ADHD have different brain structure to people without. </p>

<p>If this is the case, why isn't the difference of brain structure used to diagnose ADHD, rather than a series of questions relating to behavioral symptoms?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-10T21:43:52.533Z
Unfortunately, your question appears absolutely unclear to me. First, the title is not fully comprehensible. Second, the question is incoherent in itself: if one could state that ADHD "is caused by a brain structure" it would appear to me the most obvious diagnostic strategy to check for that structure (or difference in structure). Third, behavioural symptoms are THE way of diagnosing ADHD and many other (neuro-)psychiatric disorders. Yet, other methods apart of rating behavioural variables might be used. Please clarify your question so that it can be answered.
bunsenbaer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-10T21:48:11.950Z
Furthermore, it cannot be stated for virtually any such disorder that it can be explained by the malfunction of any single brain structure. The brain is a highly complex system with its many different parts dynamically affecting many others directly or indirectly from molecular up to the systems level.
bunsenbaer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-10T22:03:22.517Z
Could you give a source that claimed ADHD is caused or correlated with abnormal brain structure?
Seanny123
<adhd>
If ADHD is caused by brain structure, why isn't analysis of brain structure used to diagnose it?
dwjohnston
# If ADHD is caused by brain structure, why isn't analysis of brain structure used to diagnose it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-10)

My understanding is that people with ADHD have different brain structure to people without.

If this is the case, why isn't the difference of brain structure used to diagnose ADHD, rather than a series of questions relating to behavioral symptoms?

**Tags:** adhd

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Unfortunately, your question appears absolutely unclear to me. First, the title is not fully comprehensible. Second, the question is incoherent in itself: if one could state that ADHD "is caused by a brain structure" it would appear to me the most obvious diagnostic strategy to check for that structure (or difference in structure). Third, behavioural symptoms are THE way of diagnosing ADHD and many other (neuro-)psychiatric disorders. Yet, other methods apart of rating behavioural variables might be used. Please clarify your question so that it can be answered.  
> **username_1**: Furthermore, it cannot be stated for virtually any such disorder that it can be explained by the malfunction of any single brain structure. The brain is a highly complex system with its many different parts dynamically affecting many others directly or indirectly from molecular up to the systems level.  
> **username_2**: Could you give a source that claimed ADHD is caused or correlated with abnormal brain structure?  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2015-08-10. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

ADHD is not 'caused' by a brain structure. However, there are observable differences in the brains of ADHD sufferers compared to non-ADHD sufferers.

For example, ADHD sufferers have a disproportionately greater decrease in volume in the [left side of the prefrontal cortex](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735806000079), as well as the posterior parietal cortex.

In addition, there is typically a reduction in the number of dopamine receptors, as well as a sensitivity to neurotransmitter activity. Thus, stimulants and cognitive enhancements are [often used to treat ADHD](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3353150/).

[This paper](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272832/) does a good, in-depth job of mapping networks and brain connectivity to ADHD. If you were to read it, you might notice a problem -- it isn't the case that there is one 'brain structure' that ADHD sufferers have that non-sufferers do not have, nor is it just one brain structure that is affected. The way that ADHD seems to 'work' in the brain is very complex, and there is still much to be learned about the brain before we can go about diagnosing people based on MRI data.

Furthermore, the line between ADHD and other mental disorders is not clearly drawn. Inattentiveness could stem from depression, trauma, or insomnia, for example. Mania and/or hyperactivity could stem from bipolar disorder or histrionic personality disorder. We are so far from figuring the brain out that we can only rely on context at this point in time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Not to mention that diagnostic tools for "brain structure" are not exactly cheap or convenient compared to standard diagnostics.  
> **username_0**: Do you think you could expand on your answer to make explicit why/how behavioral symptoms _are_ best for making the diagnosis?  
> **username_6**: @username_0 behavioral symptoms and subjective data are among the only resources we have for diagnosing ADHD in this point in time. It may or may not be the 'best' way; however, it /is/ the most accurate way right now, for the reasons outlined above. Using the brain to diagnose ADHD is about as reliable as using the brain to prove that someone is a 'kind-hearted person'; there are so many varying definitions and perspectives on the term, that it is almost impossible to create an all-encompassing definition. The /only/ somewhat reliable measure we have is behavioral data.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-14. Score: -1

The latest research in ADHD scan studies show a lack on activity in the left side of the pre-frontal cortex. As far as your question goes not everyone can afford these scans to come up with an accurate diagnosis. Also a SPECT scan could show two different patterns in activity if the scan was done more than once. It would have to take numerous scans over time to come up with an accurate diagnosis. That is why it is much easier to be honest about symptoms with a psychiatrist you trust.

username_3

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Adding references to strong claims is important to allow folks to read more on the backgrounds of your answer. -1  
> **username_5**: As far as I know the predictive power of SPECT and other brain scans [is still too low](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/think-act-be/201605/using-brain-scans-diagnose-mental-disorders) for ADHD or any other major psychiatric disorder.  

---

