They can only go privately, and this affects those that cannot pay the fees.’ ‘Public hospitals and mental health systems don’t provide any access for adults who need assessment. There isn’t a lot of formal training,’ he said. ‘A lot of psychiatrists don’t understand ADHD well, and the same applies to paediatricians. He told newsGP there is not enough understanding of ADHD. ‘I believe GPs are well placed in terms of understanding the lives of their patients and the impact of an illness like ADHD.’Īssociate Professor John Kramer, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests ADHD, ASD and Neurodiversity, was part of the ADHD Guidelines Development Group. ‘It requires a longitudinal view of that patient’s life including home and school or work, and the exclusion of other health and mental health conditions that can mimic ADHD. ‘It cannot be done simply with screening questionnaires,’ he said. He describes the diagnostic process for patients with ADHD as ‘time consuming’, with guidelines suggesting it takes 2–3 hours. It runs in families, so if one child is diagnosed, screen the other family members as well.’ ‘ADHD is a common, neurodevelopmental disorder with onset typically before the age of 12, and affects 6–10% of children. ‘It is useful to have a manual for GPs interested in pursuing ADHD diagnosis and management,’ he said. New evidence-based guidelines have been published by the Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), including 132 recommendations designed to support the approximately one million Australians thought to be living with ADHD.ĭr Andrew Leech, a GP with paediatric special interest, told newsGP there are several main takeaways for GPs from the new guidelines, which were published after consulting people with ADHD, researchers, clinicians, family members and community members. The guidelines outline recommendations for diagnosis, support and treatment including medications and non-pharmacological options.ĪDHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 6–10% of children.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |