Many children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD may be receiving little benefit from their current medication and should be using non-drug treatments or other medications, according to a groundbreaking new study that aims to reduce the chance of over-medicating children diagnosed with (ADHD).
The Centre for General Practice at The University of Queensland, in conjunction with Queensland Medical Laboratory and the Mater Children`s Hospital, are collaborating on the nationwide study which uses an individualised approach to drug prescription and assessment for ADHD. Families of children with ADHD are being invited to participate in the study. For the first time patients and families will be provided with individualised feedback about the effectiveness of their ADHD medication. Participation is via mail and telephone.
According to head of the research team Paul Glasziou, Professor of Evidence-Based Health Care at The University of Queensland, current methods of determining what drugs are likely to work for a particular patient are imprecise.
"A doctor will often start a child on a particular medication and then see how they feel. However, it is difficult to know if one particular medication works at all or works better than another. This is particularly true with medications like stimulant medications for ADHD, which work very well for some children and not for others," Prof Glasziou.
"Preliminary results are already providing important feedback on this for families, with only 19 out of the 42 children tested so far showing definite benefit from their ADHD medication."
"The study uses an Individualised Medication Effectiveness Test (IMET) to measure drug effectiveness in each person involved in the study, rather than determining population averages, which is a traditional limitation of large-scale clinical trials", Prof Glasziou said. It will also look at whether IMETs can reduce the cost of ADHD medication to families, the health care system and the government.
Families with children with ADHD interested in exploring the benefits of a medication effectiveness test can get an information kit by phoning a dedicated number: 1800 038 464 or 07 3346 4696.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT FACULTY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER MARLENE MCKENDRY ON 07 3346 4713 OR 0401 996847, OR THE IMET SERVICE ON 1800 038 464 OR 07 3240 6154.
FACT SHEET
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disease of the 21st century, with the number of children diagnosed increasing at an alarming rate. Despite common perceptions ADHD is no longer a disorder among only primary school aged children. On the contrary, increasing numbers of toddlers and older teenagers are demonstrating the symptoms related to ADHD. This means that more and more of our nations` children are
taking drugs to control their behaviour and improve their learning skills.
The Costs
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expenditure is over $4 billion per year and increasing.
• The number of dexamphetamine tablets (a widely used medication
for ADHD) used per school student in Australia has increased over the last twelve years by over 30 times, particularly in Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
• Per school aged child consumption of another ADHD medication, methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin) has increased 10-fold in Australia over the last 12 years.
• The majority of this increase was in the ACT, Tasmania, and Queensland.
• In the year July 2001 to June 2002, the total expenditure by the PBS for dexamphetamine was $3,794,612.
• Ritalin, not being covered by the PBS, costs families $50 per month.
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