Episode

Is “ring of fire” ADHD real?

Podcast: Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson
Published: Mar 26, 2026
Duration seconds: 1601
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Canonical source: https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/ring-of-fire-adhd
Audio: https://mgln.ai/e/1245/afp-935247-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/413aead8-30e8-4194-b1de-a79e272c9a2b/episodes/bccdb1bd-c0be-4f91-9c73-469b1fa41060/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=413aead8-30e8-4194-b1de-a79e272c9a2b&awEpisodeId=bccdb1bd-c0be-4f91-9c73-469b1fa41060&feed=rovQkSeI
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Markdown: /podcast/hyperfocus-with-rae-jacobson-7037869/is-ring-of-fire-adhd-real.md

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Summary

Our team has been seeing something called “ring of fire” ADHD spreading across the internet. It’s a supposed subtype of ADHD promoted by Daniel Amen, a celebrity psychiatrist with clinics in multiple states and a huge online following. But in reporting this episode, we found that “ring of fire” ADHD isn’t recognized by mainstream science. Nor are brain scans approved by the FDA as a diagnostic tool for ADHD. Our guest today, clinical psychologist Roberto Olivardia, PhD, explains why he believes Dr. Amen’s approach is unethical — and how it may lead to real harm for patients seeking answers.