Clinical research on children discussed

One of the sections of the National Academy of Science is the Institute On Medicine. The Institute of Medicine has a Committee on Clinical Research With Children, and in July, 2003, the Committee had hearings regarding the policies and procedures that should be created and implemented when research grants and projects are funded and designed which involve children. (You read about this in your local newspaper right? :-)

Nowadays, the drug companies, ever looking for new markets, are pushing all kinds of psychotropic medications for children so this has become a bigger issue as Americans, always looking for simple and quick fixes to complex situations, increasingly are tempted to medicate the problems with their kids away with a silver bullet.

And so CHADD (Children and Adults With Attention Deficit Disorder), a large group of parents, kids, and professionals (0ver 20,000 members) concerned about ADD and its affect on individuals and families, stepped up to the plate and testified. I found CHADD's presentation very enlightening and reasonable. You can read the 8 page statement by clicking on the link below and when you get to the web page of the Institute on Medicine you will find an icon there to download the CHADD statement.

Basically what the statement says is that ADD and ADHD are misunderstood and there are many myths and much stigma attached to this diagnosis. CHADD attempts to provide information and recommend services and practices that are evidence based. CHADD believes that current policies and procedures in place have served youth well. CHADD further outlines the areas in which it believes further research should be done.

I recommend downloading and reading their statement if you are at all interested in ADD, and if you are concerned about research practices involving children.

IOM Clinical Research Involving Children: Statement of Child and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder