Whether there has been any increase in the number of people and, in particular, children being prescribed Ritalin or other drugs for attent…

Figures are not held centrally on the number of people, including children, who have been prescribed methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) or other drugs for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data collected centrally relate to the number of prescribed items and cost dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors. The data is not patient-specific.In deciding whether or not to prescribe Ritalin or other drugs for ADHD, clinicians would be expected to take account of advice and guidance about these treatments. This would include the national clinical guideline on Attention Deficit and Hyperkinetic Disorders in Children and Young People issued by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) in June 2001, the guidance issued in October 2000 by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the use of methylphenidate (Ritalin and Equasym) for ADHD in childhood and the Scottish Medicines Consortium advice dated July 2002 about the methylphenidate sustained release OROS formulation Concerta XL. Through the Chief Scientist Office, the Scottish Executive is funding a preliminary study of complementary therapy for children with ADHD. Given that there are well-established mechanisms for assessing clinical research and developing evidence-based guidelines for use within the health service, it would be inappropriate for the Executive to offer assessments of individual research papers.