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ADHD accredited training course needed for nurses helping children manage the condition, says advocacy group

Call follows study which suggests the use of the drug Ritalin to treat children with ADHD be stepped up
ADHD

Call follows study which suggests the use of the drug Ritalin to treat children with ADHD be stepped up


The Lancet Psychiatry study suggests the use of the drug Ritalin for children with
ADHD should be stepped up rather than reduced. Picture: Science Photo Library

Nurses need training and support to help children and their parents to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) following a diagnosis, according to the head of an advocacy group.

An international study released this week in The Lancet Psychiatry suggesting use of the drug Ritalin to treat UK children with the condition should be stepped up rather than reduced.

One of the study’s co-authors, Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital professor of child and adolescent psychiatry David Coghill, said: ‘I think we have quite strong evidence to suggest that – in the UK and many countries outside the US – ADHD is under-recognised and under-diagnosed.

‘If you don't recognise and diagnose someone, you don't have the option of what treatment they receive.’

Nurses’ role critical 

The ADHD Foundation chief executive Tony Lloyd said nurses had a critical role in the treatment of the condition, whose symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behaviour and hyperactivity.

‘In recent years more and more nurses are being put in charge of running ADHD outpatient clinics as well as leading medication reviews,’ he said.

‘Many are doing a fantastic job in difficult circumstances, but not all are getting the right preparation for the job.

He added: ‘I believe there should be some kind of accredited training course for nurses going into this field so that the same standards are applied right across the NHS.

‘Given the proper training, time and support, it could be an effective model and help nurses fully understand the importance of meeting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on ADHD and the risks associated with not.’

133 drug trials

The recent study reviewed a wealth of data from 133 trials around the world looking at the effectiveness and tolerability of ADHD drugs.

Around 24,000 patients took part in the trials, including 14,000 children.

After sifting through data, the authors concluded Ritalin remained the best medical option for children with ADHD.

Ritalin is already recommended as a first line treatment for children with ADHD by NICE, which vets the cost effectiveness of treatments in England and Wales.

Falling below diagnostic radar

The study's research team agreed many British children with the condition were falling below the diagnostic radar and not getting the help they need.

They were also keen to dispel the myth that ADHD drugs such as methylphenidate, or Ritalin, were a form of ‘chemical cosh’ and children would be better off with less treatment.

Co-author of the study, King's College London professor of child and adolescent psychiatry Emily Simonoff, said: ‘Clinicians are very cautious about using medication in this country.

Under-recognition and diagnosis

‘The problem in the UK is predominantly about under-recognition and diagnosis across a range of conditions.

‘As a result there are a number of children suffering with a range of mental health disorders who could benefit from treatment.’

Dr Lloyd welcomed the findings of the study, adding:

‘It is an unequivocal fact that ADHD had been under-diagnosed and under-medicated in the UK for some time,' he said.

‘However, medication in isolation is not a cure. It should be part of a multi-model approach to treating and managing the condition.’


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