Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) researchers are calling for more children to have their medication effectiveness assessed.
A University of Queensland (UQ) study has shown many children with ADHD are receiving no benefit from their medication and may be better off using alternative treatments. An earlier study on certain types of ADHD children found only 47 out of the 92 children tested actually showed benefit from their medication.
Researchers have identified three particular groups of ADHD suffers who may benefit from this test:
• Inattentive ADHD sufferers
• Children who have been on medication for long period and may have “grown out of it”
• Parents of children who want to confirm that their child’s medication is appropriate.
Researchers need 110 children to participate in the nationwide study which will conclude at the end of this year.
The Centre for General Practice at UQ, in conjunction with the University of Western Australia and the Mater Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane, are collaborating on the study which uses an individualised approach to drug prescription 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 or telephone.
UQ researcher Dr Geoff Mitchell said current methods for determining what drugs are likely to work for a particular patient are not effective.
“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 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,” Dr Mitchell said.
UQ Centre for General Practice director Professor Chris Del Mar said the study would use a more effective drug testing system.
“The study uses the Individualised Medication Effectiveness Test (IMET) to measure drug effectiveness in each person involved in the study, rather than assuming an individual effect from the population’s response in more traditional large-scale clinical trails,” Professor Chris Del Mar 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.
Media: For further information, contact Norma McNairn (telephone 1800 038 464)
or A/Prof Geoff Mitchell (telephone0412 775 117).
