Report of the service profiling exercise (PDF, 487K, 1min 11secs)
About this Report
This report details the findings of a service profiling exercise which was carried out in all territorial NHS boards in Scotland between September 2006 and December 2006, and includes both the national emerging themes, and each NHS board’s local report.
The aim of the exercise was to find out what services are available across Scotland for children and young people with ADHD and how these services are planned and delivered.
Background information
In June 2001, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published a national clinical guideline (SIGN Guideline 52), which provides a framework for the assessment and management of attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders in children and young people.
SIGN Guideline 52 was the first SIGN guideline relating to a child and adolescent psychiatric disorder.
Membership of the guideline development group was predominantly drawn from health services, however, representatives of other organisations and agencies that have an important role in the care of children and young people with ADHD were also co-opted onto the group.
The recommendations within the guideline emphasise the need for a multi-modal assessment and for a combination of social, psychological and pharmacological approaches to manage ADHD effectively. It also includes conditions for the prescription and monitoring of pharmacological interventions.
About ADHD
Attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders are among the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorders in children and young people.
The core features of ADHD are persistent (at least 6 months duration) and developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention and hyperactivity, often with impulsive behaviour.
These symptoms can be present either individually, or in combination.