BMJ  2004;329:907-908 (16 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7471.907

Education and debate

Use of stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

FOR

¹ Division of Pathology and Neuroscience (Psychiatry), University of Dundee Centre for Child Health, Dundee DD3 6HH david.coghill@tpct.scot.nhs.uk

Definitive diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is complex. David Coghill believes the condition is undertreated, but Harvey Markovitch argues that current uncertainties about diagnosis and treatment mean doctors should be cautious

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

The consequences of persistent, pervasive, and disabling hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness on a child's development and functioning are serious. The presence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or hyperkinetic disorder predicts a wide range of negative outcomes. These include poor self esteem, academic achievement, occupational status, peer relationships, and family functioning and increased injury rates, disruptive and antisocial behaviour, substance misuse, and mood and anxiety disorders.¹ As treatment can restore healthy functioning to many of these children and young people, a reluctance to diagnose ADHD seems unreasonable and withholding effective treatments from those who have had the condition diagnosed is unjustifiable.

Opponents of the validity of ADHD as a diagnosis cite our incomplete understanding of its precise biological basis. Sensationalist journalism has often caught public, and at times professional, attention by delivering negative messages about the "dangers" of stimulants such as methylphenidate and the sharp increases in use over the . . . [Full text of this article]

Risks and benefits of stimulants

-->

When and how should stimulants be used?

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Articles

Hyperactivity in children: the Gillberg affair

Jonathan Gornall
BMJ 2007 335: 370-373. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Use of stimulants for ADHD: is it always right?
BMJ 2004 329: 0. [Full Text]

Use of stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: AGAINST

Harvey Marcovitch
BMJ 2004 329: 908-909. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Gornall, J. (2007). Hyperactivity in children: the Gillberg affair. BMJ 335: 370-373 [Full text]  
• Ashton, H., Gallagher, P., Moore, B. (2006). The adult psychiatrist's dilemma: psychostimulant use in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Psychopharmacol 20: 602-610 [Abstract]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

The case for the use of stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would be much stronger if the author were free of competing interests

Judith Ronat, et al.
bmj.com, 15 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Is it necessary to have an ADHD child in order to know?

Paul Verheecke
bmj.com, 15 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Photograph confirms misconceptions about ADHD

Christina A. Oppenheimer
bmj.com, 18 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Essential nutrients needed to treat ADHD

Ellen C G Grant
bmj.com, 21 Oct 2004 [Full text]

Treating elderly patients with ADHD

Olle Hollertz
bmj.com, 22 Oct 2004 [Full text]

There are good reasons for ADHD and stimulant use to be controversial

Sami B Timimi
bmj.com, 29 Oct 2004 [Full text]