APA Tells Congress ADHD Is Serious but Treatable

Fassler told Psychiatric News in a follow-up interview, “I received a lot of positive feedback from people around the country who read news articles about the hearing or saw my interview afterward with CNN. They appreciated that APA and the academy spoke out about what’s known about the science of the disorder.” The hearing clearly showed, he emphasized, “that we still have work to do in educating the public, including elected officials, that a lot of people are affected by psychiatric disorders and that the disorders are real and treatable.”

Richard Nakamura, Ph.D., acting director of NIMH, testified that many studies “have established the safety and efficacy of stimulants and psychosocial treatments for alleviating the symptoms of ADHD. NIMH research has indicated that the two most effective treatment modalities for elementary schoolchildren with ADHD are closely monitored medication treatment and a treatment that combines medication with intensive behavioral interventions.”

Also testifying was Clarke Ross, chief executive officer of CHADD, who stressed the importance of “the evidence-based assessment and treatment guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics and AACAP.”

The guidelines emphasize the importance of multimodal treatment, which includes parental education on diagnosis, treatment, and specific behavior management techniques; an appropriate educational program; individual and family counseling when needed; and medication when required, said Ross.

His son Andrew, now 11 years old, was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, he noted. “Multimodal treatment as described in the guidelines including medication has provided. . .the support that Andrew needs in order to thrive and flourish.”

Lisa-Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, testified on behalf of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, affiliated with the Church of Scientology. She mentioned the “totally needless and tragic drugging of innocent children” and said that teenagers on powerful psychiatric drugs committed more than half of the recent teenage shooting sprees, resulting in 19 deaths and 51 wounded, according to her statement.

Mary Ann Block, D.O., an osteopathic physician from Texas, told the committee, “There is no valid test for ADHD. The diagnosis is completely subjective. While some compare ADHD to diabetes, there is no comparison because ADHD cannot be objectively measured, and amphetamines are not made by the body or needed for life.”

Patricia Weathers, a mother from New York state, testified that school officials coerced her into putting her son Michael on Ritalin, which along with an antidepressant had “horrendous side effects,” according to her statement.

Weathers maintained that the school expelled her son when she stopped giving him drugs and called child protective services charging her and her husband with medical neglect. This charge that was later ruled unfounded, she said.

Weathers has filed a lawsuit against the school system. Her complaint is that she was not told about the controversy surrounding the disorder including the validity of ADHD tests, warnings about medication side effects, and studies showing that Ritalin can lead to substance abuse, according to her statement.

Bruce Wiseman testified that numerous states have introduced or passed legislation or regulations to limit the use of psychotropic medications by children (see box). He recommended that the House committee develop federal legislation to prohibit schools from making medication of children a condition of staying in school, protect parents from losing child custody if they refuse to medicate their child, and require that parents be informed about alternatives to psychotropic drugs.

Burton responded that such legislation is beyond the scope of Congress. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (PL 107-110) prohibits federal officials and employees from interfering with state and local education issues.