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American Morning
Kids & ADHD
Aired January 06, 2003 - 08:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Medical researchers say there is a persistent fear among parents of hyperactive children. It is the fear that giving kids medication for hyperactivity could lead to addiction later on in life.
Here with some details from Atlanta, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
Good morning.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER: Hi, Paula.
ZAHN: Hi, Paula.
FRYHOFER: This is great news for children with ADHD and their parents. Over the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of stimulates to treat ADHD that has parents concerned that the use of these stimulants might in some way increase the risk of substance abuse later on.
But this new study, which was published today in the journal pediatrics is reassuring for parents, because they looked at all the available data, and these researchers at mass general found that not only did treating ADHD with stimulants not increase later substance abuse, it actually had a protective effect. They saw a twofold reduction in later substance use in these children that were treated with stimulants.
ZAHN: Doctor, if you would, I need you to explain something to us today. This seems to be the diagnosis of the day, and I don't know, when you and I were growing up, they used to have larger parameters what they would accept in the classroom, and you were just like a mysterious kid and now every kid is labeled ADHD which is a behavioral problem. What exactly is it, and how is it qualified?
FRYHOFER: Well, let's start off with what it stands for. ADHD actually means attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and it's pretty common. It actually affects up to 12 percent of all school- aged children.
Boys are diagnosed three times more commonly than girls, and the symptoms -- inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity -- and these children are often rejected by peers, these children have behaviors that are so disruptive that the child can't function right, the classroom can't function right and the family can't function properly.
Now you can't make this diagnosis with a single visit to the doctor's office, you have to have symptoms for at least six months. And it's often confused or misdiagnosed, because a lot of times, these kids have anxiety disorders or depression, so it's important to remember that.
And also, about a third of these children have a coexisting condition, a learning problem, a conduct disorder or an anxiety disorder.
ZAHN: All right, we'll have to leave it there this morning.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, thank you. This is the first time you've been on "American Morning."
FRYHOFER: It is. Thanks, Paula.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 6, 2003 - 08:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Medical researchers say there is a persistent fear among parents of hyperactive children. It is the fear that giving kids medication for hyperactivity could lead to addiction later on in life.
Here with some details from Atlanta, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
Good morning.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER: Hi, Paula.
ZAHN: Hi, Paula.
FRYHOFER: This is great news for children with ADHD and their parents. Over the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of stimulates to treat ADHD that has parents concerned that the use of these stimulants might in some way increase the risk of substance abuse later on.
But this new study, which was published today in the journal pediatrics is reassuring for parents, because they looked at all the available data, and these researchers at mass general found that not only did treating ADHD with stimulants not increase later substance abuse, it actually had a protective effect. They saw a twofold reduction in later substance use in these children that were treated with stimulants.
ZAHN: Doctor, if you would, I need you to explain something to us today. This seems to be the diagnosis of the day, and I don't know, when you and I were growing up, they used to have larger parameters what they would accept in the classroom, and you were just like a mysterious kid and now every kid is labeled ADHD which is a behavioral problem. What exactly is it, and how is it qualified?
FRYHOFER: Well, let's start off with what it stands for. ADHD actually means attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and it's pretty common. It actually affects up to 12 percent of all school- aged children.
Boys are diagnosed three times more commonly than girls, and the symptoms -- inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity -- and these children are often rejected by peers, these children have behaviors that are so disruptive that the child can't function right, the classroom can't function right and the family can't function properly.
Now you can't make this diagnosis with a single visit to the doctor's office, you have to have symptoms for at least six months. And it's often confused or misdiagnosed, because a lot of times, these kids have anxiety disorders or depression, so it's important to remember that.
And also, about a third of these children have a coexisting condition, a learning problem, a conduct disorder or an anxiety disorder.
ZAHN: All right, we'll have to leave it there this morning.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, thank you. This is the first time you've been on "American Morning."
FRYHOFER: It is. Thanks, Paula.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
