In studying a possible link between students with ADHD on the prescribed drug Ritalin and sudden cardiac arrest, researchers at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have found a distinct correlation and a probable linkage. For students on Ritalin in the classroom, read on to find out more....
NIMH Study and ADHD Medication Implications
The NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) conducts a diversity of studies with students with disabilities. The latest study that was a federally funded study conducted research on students with ADHD who took the drug Ritalin. In looking at 564 children and teenagers who took the drug Ritalin and died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest, the researchers found a possible linkage between the use of Ritalin as a treatment for students with ADHD and possible cardiac death (http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2009/06/18/2009-06-18_children_taking_adhd_medication_may_have_an_increased_risk_of_sudden_cardiac_dea.html#ixzz0JsqvJYNa&D p. 1).
In providing further research into the link between cardiac arrest in ADHD students taking the prescribed stimulant drug Ritalin, the NIMH researchers hope to further research studies to prove definitively a cause-effect relationship between drugs like Ritalin and students on ADHD who are prescribed these drugs and who may have inherent cardiac risks.
Drugs vs. No Drugs for Students with ADHD
According to Dr. Ramon Solhkhah, Director at the Child and Family Institute of St. Luke’s, prescribed medication is the “gold standard of treatment for moderate to severe ADHD, although some kinds may benefit from non-drug therapies” (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/National+Institute+of+Mental+Health p. 1). The drug vs. no drugs for students with ADHD is big debate between medical practitioners who believe in providing medication and those who see non-drug therapies as a prescriptive measure of treating ADHD symptoms.
The use of cognitive behavioral therapies and other alternative methods of treating the underlying causes of ADHD can be used according to other practitioners in reducing behavioral distractors and keeping students focused and attentive to the academic and learning expectations in the classroom. The debate and research rages on whether drugs vs. no drugs should be used to treat students with ADHD, but the bottom line is whether students are able to attain educational equity and access in today's school communities.
Study Implications
The study proposing a possible linkage between drugs used to treat children with ADHD and sudden cardiac arrests is one of many studies by the NIMH researchers. Other studies indicate that underlying cardiac abnormalities may provide the real cause of cardiac arrests in students taking Ritalin or other ADHD medications.
Study implications are inconclusive in showing a medically definitive correlation between Ritalin and ADHD students suffering cardiac arrests, but the signifiance of a possible linkage could result in additional research being federally funded to further study an area of interest and concern that could have major implications for students with ADHD on prescribed medications in classrooms.
The following resources listed below provide linkages to the actual study and additional research studies conducted by the Naitonal Institute of Mental Health involving students with ADHD and students with other disabilities.
Website Links to the Study