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Clinic closure leaves 1000 patients without psychiatric care

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Key Points
  • Approximately 1000 patients lost care after a clinic's closure and bankruptcy.
  • The closure was ordered due to serious risks to patient health and safety.
  • Patients with ADHD face increased risks if treatment is abruptly stopped.

In Sweden, approximately 1000 patients are without care and may need to abruptly break their medical treatment following the closure and bankruptcy of Psykiatrispecialisterna. The closure was ordered by the Inspection for Care and Welfare, IVO, at the end of February because the authority deemed there was a clear and serious risk to patients' health, safety, and life. The clinic has been criticized for substandard investigations.

For patients with ADHD, an abrupt end to medication can have serious consequences, including increased risks of traffic accidents, self-harm, suicide attempts, and crime by 20-40 percent, according to Markus Heilig, a psychiatry professor at Linköping University. Heilig argues that the regional care system should create a special working group to handle these patients, describing it as a medical crisis for this group. However, regional councilor Fredrik Sjöstrand says no such measure is planned, as public care must prioritize based on greatest need, and patients should seek public care or private providers with regional contracts.

For patients with ADHD, an abrupt end to medication can have serious consequences, including increased risks of traffic accidents, self-harm, suicide attempts, and crime by 20-40 percent

Markus Heilig, psychiatry professor at Linköping University

Heilig notes that while it is positive to stop clinics that do not provide safe care, there is a risk that doctors may avoid running private clinics, making it harder for patients with genuine ADHD to get diagnosis and treatment.

Heilig argues that the regional care system should create a special working group to handle these patients, describing it as a medical crisis for this group

Markus Heilig, psychiatry professor at Linköping University

no such measure is planned, as public care must prioritize based on greatest need, and patients should seek public care or private providers with regional contracts

Fredrik Sjöstrand, regional councilor

while it is positive to stop clinics that do not provide safe care, there is a risk that doctors may avoid running private clinics, making it harder for patients with genuine ADHD to get diagnosis and treatment

Markus Heilig, psychiatry professor at Linköping University

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