Tablets taken for controversial disorder queried by psychologist

A LEADING psychologist has questioned why thousands of Irish children are taking tablets every day to stave off the symptoms of a controversial disorder that has been discredited by the man who created it.

Clinical psychologist Dr Tony Humphreys said that most children given an attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or ODD diagnosis in this country, are on medication like Ritalin or Concerta. He believes, however, that they are unnecessarily taking dangerous pills every day when the solution lies in tackling emotional issues at home and at school.

Writing in this newspaper, Dr Humphreys says the psychologist who first named the syndrome in the ’70s, Dr Robert Spitzer, made a U-turn earlier this year admitting that he should have looked at the “context of the labelled children’s lives” when first devising the term.

“The statistics are incredible and it’s the same throughout the world. In the UK, for instance, there are over 500,000 children who have been given the label ADHD, but just 55,000 of them are on medication. Here most of the kids with the label are on medication for something that should never have been termed a biological syndrome. The diagnosis is being made by educational psychologists based on whether they exhibit a range of behaviours, like inability to concentrate and hyperactivity. If they just stood back it would be ridiculous to diagnose a supposed biological disorder in this way.

“The label is so powerful, however, as parents are terrified of being judged if their child is not acting as expected, and this label is something that they find easier to accept. I believe, however, that as a country we need to look at parenting and teaching far more seriously as they are the most important professions. How good we are at parenting, for instance, is all determined by our own sense of what parenting is about and our levels of self esteem,” he added.

Dr Humphreys pointed to Britain where all parents are to be offered free parenting classes. He also warned that teachers need more “psychosocial training” so they can deal with and understand the reasons for different behavioural challenges.

“We live in a culture where there is a reliance on doctors and substances. It is much easier for people to write a prescription than look deeply at their relationships. People need the opportunity and safety to consider parenting classes, counselling and to look at themselves. A study has shown that 20%-25% of 15-17 year-olds are suffering emotional turmoil. There is so much inner turmoil out there and medication is not always the solution. Children aren’t getting the security they need,” he said.

Dr Humphrey’s view is a contentious one. ADD/ADHD parent support groups across the country have rejected such analysis of their children’s problems. The North Fingal Parent and Adult ADHD/ADD Support Group website describes the syndrome as: “A neurological-based medical condition that is not caused by poor parenting and diet.”