DAK study Less Ritalin prescription for ADHD

Less psycho-drugs for children with ADHD

03/11/2015

According to an evaluation of the DAK, children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms in Germany receive less Ritalin prescribed. About the prescription drug is discussed for years, among other things because of its side effects controversial.

Regulations of Ritalin declined by ten percent
According to an evaluation of the DAK, children and adolescents who have symptoms of attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADD / ADHD) are prescribed less Ritalin. According to a news agency dpa, the prescriptions for the active substance methylphenidate among DAK insured persons between the ages of five and 14 decreased by ten percent from 2011 to 2013. As it was called by the DAK, experts estimated that over 325,000 pupils nationwide suffered from ADHD symptoms. These symptoms can occur in a variety of forms. Health experts often refer to three main symptoms of ADHD in this context: inner restlessness, impulsivity and difficulty in regulating attention and mood.

New guidelines for prescriptions
The DAK expert Jan Helfrich said: „The significant decrease is probably due to the new drug guidelines.“ According to these guidelines, only specialists in behavioral disorders in children and adolescents may prescribe psycho-medication. Ritalin has been a hot topic for years. According to advocates, it is a helpful drug that corrects the disordered dopamine budget in the brain, which could make affected children more focused, attentive, and calmer. Opponents point to numerous side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea and sleep problems.

Lack of accurate prescribing guidelines
The use of methylphenidate increased globally by 66 percent between 2012 and 2013, the UN Drug Control Council recently reported. The report pointed out that there is more and more abuse of ADHD medications. Among other things, the increased use according to the UN Council on Drug Control (INCB) may be due to a lack of precise prescriptive guidelines. In Germany, the number of ADHD diagnoses (popularly too „Zappelphillip syndrome“ ) among the 19-year-olds from 2006 to 2011 increased by 42 percent. (Ad)

Picture credits: Stephanie Hofschlaeger