Child clinic made 'diagnosis errors'

ADHD children can suffer from lack of attention span

A clinic for hyperactive children misdiagnosed patients as needing a powerful psychiatric drug, it has been revealed.

Ritalin prescriptions have soared in the UK

The Abbey Hulton centre in Staffordshire is alleged to have misdiagnosed children as suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and wrongly prescribed Ritalin, a powerful stimulant.

An inquiry has been launched as concern grows about the increasing number of children with ADHD being given Ritalin in the UK.

North Staffordshire Combined Health Care Trust, which is investigating the centre, has reviewed 100 cases so far, with another 50 still to be investigated.

The trust said the clinic had made some errors, but more than 50% of 100 cases reviewed so far had been correctly diagnosed with ADHD.

ADHD is the subject of a BBC Panorama programme to be screened on Monday.

ADHD

ADHD includes lack of attention span, more serious problems such as Asperger's Syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, and hyperactivity

Prescriptions of Ritalin in the UK went up from 2,000 in 1991 to 92,000 in 1997

Opponents of Ritalin claim that it can leave children unduly robotic, lethargic, depressed, or withdrawn

One mother featured on the programme was told her son had been prescribed too high a dose of Ritalin and it was to be halved.

"I'm angry he's been over-prescribed," said Sharon Buxton, whose son Craig was a patient at the clinic. "I feel angry because he's been taking such a powerful drug."

Up to 190,000 British children are now estimated to be on psychiatric drugs including anti-depressants, with Ritalin one of the most common prescriptions.

Dr David Foreman, a specialist in ADHD, was suspended from the Abbey Hulton centre amid allegations he had misdiagnosed the condition.

He is said to have given children as young as five the powerful drug, in breach of guidelines from its manufacturer, leading to a 15-fold increase in the number of children diagnosed as having the condition.

In a statement, he said he had used recognised procedures and had informed the trust of the rise in the number of the cases.

He added: "I've been heartened by the extent of support expressed for me locally."