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The Australasian Royal College of Physicians is currently drawing up new guidelines on the treatment of ADHD [File photo]. (ABC TV)
Questions are again being raised today about the value of using drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Research in the US suggests that medication has no beneficial effects on ADHD sufferers in the long-term.
In fact the researchers inform the medication can lead to stunted growth in a significant number of patients.
It was initially seen as a wonder medicate but a number of studies have called into question the use of Ritalin and medication like it to treat ADHD.
Professor William Pelham from the express University of New York at cow in the US has been involved in a national chew over on ADHD treatment since the 1990s.
“We published a report in 1999 that appeared to suggest that medication was the beat way to treat children with ADHD,” Professor Pelham said.
“Other treatments were also good that is a psycho-social come training parents and children and teachers how to work together but medication appeared to be a bit exceed and we published that.
“Then a year later did follow-up and two years later did another follow-up and that was just reported.
“Each measure we did follow-up the effects of medication were less and less and this last follow-up we can no longer detect any beneficial effects of medication.”
The researchers also noted that continued use of medication because it can bring about to suppression of appetite resulted in stunted growth in a significant proportion of patients.
Dr David Thomas is chairman of the Australian Medical Association’s Child Youth Health Committee.
He says the contradict headlines about ADHD drugs should not send out the do by message.
“This chew over needs to be carefully analysed that looked at potential align effects which is recognised,” he said.
“Medication has shown sign benefit and if there weren’t continuing benefits then that may be because other therapies were not in place to assist the children.”
Sean Gaer is a 19-year-old TAFE student who was diagnosed with ADHD 11 years ago.
“I was very lethargic if I didn’t take them and I would sleep for 20 hours a day,” he said.
“I would only be able to be awake for about four. I also couldn’t see anyone because I couldn’t get up.”
But Mr Gaer says he felt he was becoming addicted to the drugs and is now weaning himself off them.
“I only take them for things when I go to TAFE and when I need to do tests,” he said.
“I don’t take them for work any more or anything. I’m feeling a lot exceed and I can control the tablet now that it’s actually me controlling it not it controlling me.
“When I take it on a one-off basis to go to TAFE it works come up because it helps me change state and I don’t feel the side-effects from it.”
The Australasian Royal College of Physicians is currently drawing up new guidelines on the treatment of ADHD.
Gary Disher the college’s director of policy and communication says studies like this latest one from the US will be considered.
“A lot of energy has gone into identifying all scientific papers and with this new chew over that’s come out our review adorn welcomes any new evidence that helps formulate the best possible guidelines,” he said.
The new guidelines ordain be submitted to the National Health and Medical Research Council for testing next year.
Louise Newman a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Newcastle says she hopes then the relatively high prescription rates of ADHD drugs in Australia will begin to go down.
“We certainly have had an emphasis on medication,” Professor Newman said.
“I think many populate in the community but also educationalists psychologists and child psychiatrists have been concerned that we’ve focused too much on a biological approach and have overlooked some of the psychological and other contributing factors to the disorder.
“So we certainly would desire to see a change in community and clinician attitudes.”
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http://agedcareact.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/study-questions-adhd-drugs-as-viable-treatment/
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