Question diagnoses and efficacy of drugs

IT was with deep concern that I read about the alleged mental health crisis facing schools (Irish Examiner, December 5).

It is claimed that 26,000 pupils may have undiagnosed ‘mental disorders’, the main ones being attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and various learning disorders.

It must be remembered, though, that these so-called disorders and mental illnesses have never been confirmed through any objective medically based tests. They are believed to be related to some neurochemical defect or imbalance and yet no sound scientific evidence has ever been presented to support this.

What is worse is that hazardous and addictive amphetamine-like drugs such as Ritalin are prescribed to ‘treat’ some of these ‘disorders’. These drugs, though, can actually cause the very behavioural problems they are allegedly designed to treat.

It should also be borne in mind that the behavioural problems certain children manifest may be the result of some easily detectable and treatable physical disorder, nutritional deficiencies or personal and environmental problems.

I would like to know, therefore, how many of these children are given a thorough medical examination before they receive a diagnosis of mental disorder?

What is essential is that these children are given non-drug and holistic interventions to address their behavioural problems.

I also sincerely fear that the way is now being paved for the widespread psychiatric labelling and drugging of our children, facilitated by the use of schools as mental health screening centres.

In the future, we could be facing an epidemic of psychiatric drug induced illnesses and even greater social problems. There is clearly an urgent need for society to question the alleged efficacy of these drugs and the highly contestable nature of psychiatric diagnoses.

Sean Fleming

Bishop O’Donnell Rd

Rahoon

Galway