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I was very interested to read Dr Furman's letter in the last issue about ADD or ADHD and its situation in the USA. I had known of its prevalence as a diagnosis, but I had not realized that it had reached epidemic proportions nor had I appreciated the commercial interests that Dr Furman suggests underpin its identification as an entity.
I write both as one who works in a school for children with special needs and also as a the Chair of the Child Psycotherapy Trust. In both these capacities I have recently been brought face to face with the escalating diagnosis of this ‘condition’. I have noted its convenience for parents, teachers and doctors in a Health Service where resources of time and man power are short and where, therefore, quick, easy answers are at a premium. Six of eighteen symptoms (some of which most of us have demonstrated from time to time) and hey presto, no further need for exploration, and sometimes (but only sometimes) the child is rendered more amenable. No need for costly diagnostic procedures nor health professionals painfully struggling to improve family relationships or children's view of themselves and the world. Parents need feel no responsibility and doctors have worked the required miracle. This is an economy indeed, and some clinics for children and families wonder how long they will be required.
Fortunately, this is not the whole story. Many schools believe the evidence of their own eyes that their charges have their own problems. In addition, parents are careful and GPs doubtful, though the appearance of the ‘condition’ in DSM(IV) is not helpful where doctors are sceptical. Rutter's paper quoted by Dr Furman should be widely quoted when dealing with the medical profession.
It was because of the large number of parental inquiries that the Child Psychotherapy Trust decided to produce an information leaflet, and this has led to requests from quite a number of quarters for media appearances, and talks at conferences for GPs, teachers and educat