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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and use of psychostimulants among children in Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Sahbal Aras  and
Semih Semin
Sahbal Aras
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey 35340, email [email protected]
Semih Semin
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Ethics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey
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Recently, the use of psychostimulant medication in children with symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been subject to extensive debate. The problems faced while assessing and diagnosing ADHD, unnecessary prescribing of psychostimulants, the possible side-effects of psychostimulants on the developing brain, the risk of drug dependency, and the risk of stigmatising children through medicalisation of normal life events are considered among the principal objections to the use of psychostimulant medications. On the other hand, what also need to be taken into account are the increasing evidence on the genetic, biochemical and diagnostic validity of the disorder, the data showing the therapeutic effects of psychostimulants and the rarity of the above-mentioned side-effects, as well as the ethical problems created by insufficient treatment of children because of the concerns of parents. A critical evaluation of these conflicting opinions by mental health professionals might contribute to the application of ethical principles. While making this kind of evaluation, it is important to pay regard to the specific sociocultural features of the country, as well as the prevailing worldwide discussion.

Type
Special Papers
Information
International Psychiatry , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , July 2007 , pp. 71 - 73
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits noncommercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 2007

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