Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-wxhwt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-10T20:17:22.789Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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 sahbal.aras@deu.edu.tr
Semih Semin
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Ethics, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

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

References

Aktas, U. (2003) Difficult issue: hyperactivity. Radikal (newspaper), 23 December.Google Scholar
Aras, S., Tas, F. V. & Unlu, G. (2004) Psychotropic medication practices of a child and adolescent psychiatry out-patient clinic in Turkey. (Data on file.)Google Scholar
CNN TURK (2005) Student Selection Examination marathon has finished, 18 June. Available at http://www.cnnturk.com/arama/haber_detay.asp?PID=00318&haberID=104915 (in Turkish) (last accessed 16 April 2007).Google Scholar
Ersan, E. E., Dogan, O., Dogan, S., et al (2004) The distribution of symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in school age children in Turkey. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 13, 354–361.Google Scholar
International Narcotics Control Board (2004) Psychotropic substances 2004 (substances listed in Schedule II). Available at http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/tr/psy/2004/psychotropics_schedule_b.pdf (last accessed 16 April 2007).Google Scholar
Oner, O., Oncu, B., Sagduyu, G., et al (2002) Dikkatsizlik yakınmasıyla basvuran ergenlerin aldıkları tanılar. [Psychiatric diagnoses among adolescents with attention problems.] Turkish Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 9, 167–171.Google Scholar
Radikal (2005) Distribution of income is worse than in Tanzania, 20 April. Available at http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=150216 (in Turkish) (last accessed 16 April 2007).Google Scholar
Rohde, L. A. (2002) ADHD in Brazil: the DSM–IV criteria in a culturally different population. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 1131–1133.Google Scholar
Searight, H. R. & McLaren, A. L. (1998) Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: the medicalization of misbehavior. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 5, 467–495.Google Scholar
Senol, S. & Sener, S. (1998) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In Psikiyatri Temel Kitabi [Basic Book of Psychiatry], Volume II (eds Güleç, C. & Köroglu, E.), pp. 119–130. Hekimler Yayin Birligi.Google Scholar
State Institute of Statistics (2004) Available at http://nkg.die.gov.tr (last accessed 16 April 2007).Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.