Sébastien Ponnou has a doctorate in psychoanalysis and lecturer at the University of Rouen. He published a study in August 2020, in which he revealed that children with ADHD are much less numerous compared to official data.
A higher percentage than reality
Attention deficit disorders, with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) could affect, according to epidemiological studies, nearly one in 10 children in the United States. According to Americans, children, mostly boys, who are restless or have difficulty concentrating, thus disrupting the home or school environment, have ADHD. For “cure this disease”, These children are on treatment: Ritalin (an amphetamine). The potential danger is overconsumption of the drug, according to child psychiatrist Bruno Falissard. The latter informs us that “For years, the prescription of Ritalin has increased in France, and we will arrive not at the American level, but at a level that is surely too high”. It also refers to existing studies which “speak of a rate between 3.5% and 5.6% of children affected [qui lui] seems very exaggerated”. Sébastien Ponnou’s analyzes confirm, in a certain way, the comments of the child psychiatrist. His research is based on Medicare data and concerns the prescription of Ritalin and doctors’ diagnoses: “according to our study, the prevalence of hyperactivity / ADHD in France can be estimated at 0.3% of school-aged children, with 0.2% for the prescription of psychostimulants”, Explains Sébastien Ponnou. And to add: “these data are particularly robust because they are based on the reality of clinical practices and on doctors’ prescriptions for the entire population. ”
Why such a difference ?
According to the psychoanalyst, “those who think we have at least 4% ADHD are wrong”, Because they are based on studies that can be scientifically challenged. He mentions conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industries, involving a “risk of over-medication and overdiagnosis in children”, Which may exclude treatment through psychotherapy or alternative approaches. Doctor Falissard qualifies, speaking of an opposition between the medical world and the methods of clinical psychology. The debate remains open.
