A new study was reported on in the Syndney Morning Herald, discussing how Melbourne researchers have done brain scans to show how differently children with ADD or ADHD’s brains process information. The story is here.

The article reports:

Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide tracked the brain activity of 150 children and teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to build a neuro-cognitive profile of their behaviour.

The researchers found that children with ADD or ADHD without their medication - struggled with memory and avoiding distractions. With their medication, they improved.

On this blog, I have wondered what is going on in Australia with ADD/ADHD. There seems to be a significant bias against this disorder. One of my blog readers posted a very insightful comment on my previous blog post, helping me to understand why new reports seem so biases against ADD/ADHD in Australia.

That is why I am happy to see that a good brain study was done, demonstrating that children in Australia with ADD or ADHD have brain differences, which improve with their medication. This is an important study to help to clear up misconceptions about ADD/ ADHD.

Well done!

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I was surprised today to read online about the evolving ‘controversy’ about ADD/ADHD in Australia.
There was an article in the Daily Telegraph, which can be read here.

It seems that a committee has been set up to review the funding of ADHD medications by the government. However, because of the ‘ADHD Controversy’, the public and the press (and the oppoisition parties) are demanding to know the identities of the doctors involved to help to prevent a ‘conflict of interest’. The government has refused to release the identities of these doctors, because they were threatening to quit over it.

I am upset to hear that it is in this situation right now. It seems that the misinformation and stigma against ADHD has reached the level of the media and opposition parties.

But, I must admit - that I don’t really have a good sense of what is truly going on.

Is this debate affecting people’s ability to see the doctor that they need to see and to get the help that they need?

Are there any readers of this blog from Australia who can help to shed some light on this situation?

Is there anything that those of us from ‘overseas’ can do to help the situation?

Please add any comments below to share your opinions or views.

Thanks,
Dr. Kenny

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I have been following this story in the online news. It seems quite surprising to me…

From what I can gather, a 20 year old young man got charged, convicted and sentenced to jail for charges of assault and an indecent act. This young man had been diagnosed with ADHD, and was treated with Ritalin from the ages of 6-16. Judge Conlon reportedly said that he believes that the use of Ritalin has created a whole generation of violent youth. Apparently a psychiatrist testified that ritalin caused brain damage.

Here is a link to the original article.

My surprise comes from the fact that misinformed (and frankly ignorant) opinions about ADD and ADHD are in the courts in Australia. This is now getting to be a debate in the Australian Government. I urge the Medical Community in Australia, as well as the parent support groups to step forward and break down these wrong ideas.

Ritalin doesn’t cause brain injury. Generally, it is not overprescribed. Research shows that treating with Ritalin (or other ADHD medication) actually reduces aggression and criminal acts, and doesn’t cause this.

I have submitted a comment to this newspaper article posted above. They have to approve the comment. It will be interesting to see if they do. I am posting it here for you to see my response, and I will come back and let you know if they do allow this comment to go on their website.

Dr. Kenny

Here is the comment I entered into their site:

I am sorry to see that such a controversy is going on in Australia over medications for ADD/ADHD.

It has been clearly studied and documented that Ritalin does not in fact cause brain injury. I reference Dr. Castellanos’s research from the American NIMH, which documented no change in children’s brains with the ADHD medication.

Ritalin, however, when taken, can significantly improve the risk of impulsivity, which can often be the cause of criminal behaviour.
Although I don’t know details of this 20 year old’s actions, the facts are that about 70% of kids and teens with ADHD, still have it when they are adults. If he wasn’t taking his medication, then his ADHD was uncontrolled, and this could have been a contributing factor to his criminal behaviour.

Ritalin was not the causal agent for this man’s criminal acts, but it could have been a factor to prevent that from happening.

I urge scientific facts to enter this controversy in Australia, rather than ill informed opinions.
Please visit my blog to learn more about ADD/ADHD: www.ADDADHDBlog.com

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It was just reported today in Australia, that the non-stimulant medicine Strattera (Atomoxetine) will be funded under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, starting July 1, 2007.

Prior to this, the only options covered under the plan are stimulant medicines.

Strattera is the first non-stimulant indicated for ADHD. In Canada and the USA, it is indicated in the treatment of ADD/ADHD in children aged 6 and older, teens, as well as adults with the disorder.

To read more about the story in Australia, visit here.
To read more about Strattera, visit here: Strattera for ADHD.

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