Ritalin is the most common medicine prescribed to treat ADHD.Credit:Glen McCurtayne
Rather,he said many people’s ADHD had never been identified and prescription rates were starting to reflect that. There was more awareness,education and training for doctors than ever before,while diagnoses in children could often also lead to their parents coming forward,since ADHD tends to run in families,he said.
There were also other factors behind the 134 per cent soar in PBS prescriptions over five years:there had been expansion of access to ADHD drugs under the PBS during that time,meaning scripts that were previously private now show up on the data.
Additionally,Kramer said psychiatrists were improving prescribing practices and would often gradually increase a person’s dose,meaning one patient starting on medication could receive four or five different scripts in a calendar year.
Dr Elizabeth Moore,president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists,agreed there had been increased awareness due to ADHD education campaigns and improved national guidelines. “A number of people are now being diagnosed in adulthood,who have missed out on a diagnosis and appropriate treatment in childhood,” she said.
Loading
Moore said the profession was always attuned to quick changes,which included the sharp uptick in ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions.
“[But] what’s important here is that people are actually getting access,and also that they continue to be monitored. With ADHD medications,as with any medication,they have side effects,so it’s important that people get regular monitoring,” she said.
Dr Moore said there were no signs that the growth rate would taper off soon. “I think we have to monitor it and make sure there’s continued research about the most appropriate individual and population-level management of ADHD.
“The prevalence of ADHD is poorly understood. We do need more research. Once we establish what a reasonable prevalence is,we can establish whether or not this is a reasonable level of prescription.”
Kramer said there were still people missing out on medication – particularly adults from less advantaged backgrounds,since ADHD assessments were largely unavailable in the public system and could range from $600 to $1000 in the private system.
A Senate inquiry will hand down its report this week afterseveral submissions said assessments and treatment was unreachable for lower income groups,where there was likely to be a higher prevalence of ADHD.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis.Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.