ADHD is a very real condition and has unmet needs, says NeuroPerspective

"There are those that claim that ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] is a fabrication, a ruse by pharmaceutical companies to ensnare children in a psychotropic web in the name of corporate profits. Even well-regarded media outlets like the New York Times have recently run guest commentary questioning the existence of ADHD," said Harry Tracy, publisher of NeuroPerspective, in the March issue which reviews the field of ADHD.

"But anyone who has dealt with children and adolescents in a clinical or educational context knows that ADHD is very real. It is a biologically based disorder of widespread prevalence and impact, affecting millions of children, adolescents, and adults, and is often inadequately treated, if at all. This does not mean that pharmaceutical companies are not prone to overstating the case, or that individual children are not vulnerable to misdiagnosis and errant treatment, but this is not a diagnostic label without substance, and there are medication options, albeit flawed, that can provide significant improvement," he argued.

Dr Tracy, who provides consultation services to the neuropharm industry, continued: "The pervasive utilization of psychostimulants for individuals with ADHD is not without its downside. Many prescribers and parents would embrace a drug that combines clinical effectiveness with a safe side effect profile and reduced abuse risk. There is also an as-yet unmet need for a genuinely long-duration psychostimulant, but pharma companies have
dropped their efforts in that area."