Nursery World - A matter of opinion

Up to one in 20 children could have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but experts are divided on whether to treat them with stimulant drugs. Catherine Gaunt reports. Search for 'ADHD' or 'Ritalin' on the internet and the results will astonish you, with each entry throwing up hundreds of thousands of references. The amount of material demonstrates the controversy surrounding the condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the drug most commonly prescribed to treat it. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject, whether they speak as parents, early years experts, health professionals or other interested parties.

Search for 'ADHD' or 'Ritalin' on the internet and the results will astonish you, with each entry throwing up hundreds of thousands of references. The amount of material demonstrates the controversy surrounding the condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the drug most commonly prescribed to treat it. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject, whether they speak as parents, early years experts, health professionals or other interested parties.

What is in no doubt is the increase in diagnosis of children with ADHD, linked to an increase in the prescription of psychotropic drugs, like Ritalin, to treat it. In October 2000, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), at the request of the NHS, published its first clear guidance on the use of methylphenidate, sold in the UK as Ritalin and Equasym, in children with ADHD.

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