The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has pledged to work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its recent advisory to strengthen safeguards for the treatment of children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The AACAP is committed to working for safe and effective medications for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
For immediate release:
October 3, 2005
Contact:
Kristin Kroeger Ptakowski, Deputy Executive Director
202.966.7300, ext. 108, kkroeger@aacap.org
Jim Wood, Director Development and Communications
202.966.7300, ext. 120, jwood@aacap.org
WASHINGTON, DC—The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) pledged to work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its recent advisory to strengthen safeguards for the treatment of children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The AACAP is committed to working for safe and effective medications for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Children who have ADHD often have other psychiatric disorders like oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and substance abuse disorder. Medication is an important option when treating ADHD. Large-scale, long-term, randomized clinical trials show the efficacy of long-term medication treatment and the important role of psychosocial interventions. Research demonstrates that medication can be extremely effective and even lifesaving for many children and adolescents with ADHD, and is most beneficial when used as a component of a comprehensive treatment plan.
The AACAP is concerned that the FDA’s warning may result in many patients not receiving appropriate treatment. Though it is important for physicians to notify families of the benefits and risks associated with Atomoxetine, the risks of not receiving appropriate treatment must be considered. These risks include possible school failure, substance abuse and increased probability of entrance into the juvenile justice system. There is also a need to increase the number of health care professionals, like child and adolescent psychiatrists, to be trained to treat children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders like ADHD.
The AACAP will work closely with members, colleagues and families to use the new FDA advisory to improve communications, treatment planning, monitoring, and awareness of ADHD and encourages continued long-term follow-up studies on both the safety and efficacy of Atomoxetine.
The AACAP has recommended to Congress and the FDA the formation of a pediatric and adolescent Central Nervous System Advisory Committee at the FDA comprised of experts including child and adolescent psychiatrists and pediatric neurologists which would provide the agency expertise on pediatric psychopharmacology. The AACAP has been a long-standing advocate on behalf of a publicly accessible national registry of clinical trials. Physicians and parents need access to all clinical trial data to make fully informed decisions about their treatment options for mental illnesses including attentional disorders.
Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
Our Facts for Families, available free of charge on the AACAP website, provide concise and up-to-date information on a wide array of issues relating to children’s mental health. Written in a simple, straightforward manner, these 88 one-page fact sheets are valuable to anyone raising or working with children. In addition, the AACAP routinely refers the media to expert spokespeople on child and adolescent issues, and sponsors The Campaign for America’s Kids – an initiative designed to fund an Advocacy Institute for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with the goal of mental health for all children.
AACAP Mission: The Mission of the AACAP is the promotion of mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.
