Hidden
dangers of failure to diagnose ADHD correctly
- 01 April 2006
IT
SOUNDS like a mad idea, but it works. Take children who are unruly and unable
to focus on their schoolwork, and give them amphetamine-like stimulants. Far
from making them bounce off the walls, the drugs can turn little terrors into
attentive students.
However,
the idea of prescribing drugs related to addictive illegal stimulants has
always caused concern - all the more so given the escalation in diagnoses of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the condition the drugs are
supposed to treat. Now reports are coming in of serious adverse reactions,
including hallucinations and, in rare suspected cases, sudden death from
cardiovascular problems (see "Hyperactivity drugs are out of control").
For
the benefit of concerned parents, it is important to put the risks and benefits
into context. ADHD is a socially and educationally debilitating condition, and
places children at higher risk of serious accidents.
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