- Alternatives not effective in treating, claims top child & adolescent psychiatrist
Sri Lanka is experiencing a shortage in drugs needed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is suspected to be linked to an increase in cases of child violence, school dropouts and poor academic performance, The Daily Morning learnt.
“We have been facing a shortage of Methylphenidates (a potent central nervous system stimulant) which is one of the key drugs that are successful in controlling the symptoms of ADHD,” the Senior Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Dr. Prabha Vidyatilake, told The Daily Morning yesterday (19).
“Because of this, we see an increase in cases of violence, dropping out and poor grades among children with ADHD.” Dr. Vidyatilake opined. Dr. Vidyatilake told The Daily Morning that despite having other medications to treat ADHD, they are not as successful in terms of controlling the ADHD symptoms. “We are unable to give the usual bimonthly medication and sometimes, our patients under 19, have to come to the clinic every two weeks,” Dr. Vidyatilake explained.
However, Dr. Vidyatilake confirmed that the status quo as she described it pertains to the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD as limited solely to children coming to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital. “Our patients are all children,” Dr. Vidyatilake said. “ADHD is diagnosed in childhood.”
Attempts by The Daily Morning to confirm if the suspicion of the spike in behavioural change in children, linked to status quo of Colombo North Teaching Hospital, is mirrored elsewhere in Sri Lanka, failed.
The American Psychological Association said that for the diagnosis to be considered ADHD, symptoms should have been present before the age of 12; however, several adults have also been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is classified in the Fifth Version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a ‘neuro-developmental disorder defined by impaired levels of inattention, disorganisation and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity’.
Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana was not available for immediate comment while State Minister of Health Dr. Seetha Arambepola was not available for comment.