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talking to the person. The person may not always exhibit Antidepressants, antihypertensives and other medications
the symptoms of ADHD in the office, and the diagnostician may decrease impulsivity, hyperactivity and aggression.
needs to take a thorough history of the individual’s life. However, each family must weigh the pros and cons of
A diagnosis of ADHD must include consideration of the taking medication. Medications may carry the risk of side
possible presence of co-occurring conditions. effects. Physicians need to monitor their patients who take
As part of the evaluation, a physician should conduct a medication for potential side effects, such as mood swings,
thorough examination, including assessment of hearing hypertension, depression and effects on growth.
and vision to rule out other medical problems that may Behavioral interventions
be causing symptoms similar to ADHD. In rare cases,
persons with ADHD may also have a thyroid dysfunction. Behavioral interventions are also a major component of
Diagnosing ADHD in an adult requires an evaluation of the treatment for children who have ADHD. Important strategies
history of childhood problems in behavior and academic include being consistent and using positive reinforcement
domains, as well as examination of current symptoms and and teaching problem-solving, communication and self-
coping strategies. advocacy skills. Children, especially teenagers, should
be actively involved as respected members of the school
Treatment planning and treatment teams.
Treatment in children with ADHD School success may require a variety of classroom
accommodations and behavioral interventions. Most
children with ADHD can be taught in the regular classroom
ADHD in children often requires a comprehensive with minor adjustments to the environment. Some children
approach to treatment that includes the following: may require special education services. These services may
• Parent and child education about diagnosis and treat- be provided within the regular education classroom or may
ment require a special placement outside of the regular classroom
• Parent training in behavior management techniques that meets the child’s unique learning needs.
• Medication
• School programming and supports ADHD treatment for adults
• Child and family therapy to address personal and/or
family stress concerns Adults with ADHD can benefit by identifying the areas of
their life that are most impaired by their ADHD and then
Treatment should be tailored to the unique needs of each seeking treatment to address them. Adults with ADHD may
child and family. Research from the landmark NIMH benefit from treatment strategies
Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD showed significant similar to those used to treat
improvement in behavior at home and school in children ADHD in children, particularly
with ADHD who received carefully monitored medication medication and learning to
in combination with behavioral treatment. These children structure their environment.
also showed better relationships with their classmates and Medications effective for
family than did children receiving this combination of childhood ADHD continue to
treatment (Hinshaw, et al., 2015). Further research confirms be helpful for adults who have
that combining behavioral and stimulant treatments are ADHD. Various behavioral
more effective than either treatment alone. (Smith & management techniques can be
Shapiro, 2015) useful. Some adults have found
that working with a coach, either
Medication formally or informally, to be a
helpful addition to their ADHD
Psychostimulants are the most widely used class of treatment plans. In addition,
medication for the management of ADHD related mental health counseling can offer much-needed support to
symptoms. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of children with adults dealing with ADHD in themselves or someone they
ADHD respond positively to psychostimulant medications care about. Since ADHD affects the entire family, receiving
(MTA 1999). Significant academic improvement is shown services from ADHD-trained therapists skilled in Cognitive-
by students who take these medications: increases in Behavioral Therapy can help the adult with ADHD learn
attention and concentration, compliance and effort on new techniques to manage living with ADHD.
tasks, as well as amount and accuracy of schoolwork, plus
decreased activity levels, impulsivity, negative behaviors
in social interactions and physical and verbal hostility Suggested reading and references
(Spencer, 1995; Swanson 1993). These improvements Barkley, R.A. (ed.) (2015). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
show up clearly in the short term, however, long-term Disorders: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment (4th
effectiveness is still being studied by researchers (Hinshaw, edition). New York: Guilford Press.
et al., 2015). A nonstimulant medication—atomoxetine-- Barkley, R.A. (2010). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
appears to have similar effects as the stimulants. Disorder in Adults: The Latest Assessment and Treatment
help4adhd.org 4
Strategies. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. http://astore. This factsheet is supported by Cooperative Agreement
amazon.com/ci055-20/detail/0763765643 Number NU38DD005376 from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). The contents are solely
NBrown, T.E. (2013). A New Understanding of ADHD in the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily
Children and Adults: Executive Function. Routledge. http:// represent the official views of CDC. Permission is granted
astore.amazon.com/ci055-20/detail/0415814251 to photocopy and freely distribute this factsheet for non-
commercial, educational purposes only, provided that it is
Cortese, S. (2012). The neurobiology and genetics of
reproduced in its entirety, including the CHADD and NRC
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
names, logos and contact information.
What every clinician should know. European Journal
of Paediatric Neurology, 16(5):422-33. doi: 10.1016/j.
ejpn.2012.01.009. Epub 2012 Feb 2. © 2015 CHADD. All Rights Reserved.
For further information, please contact:
Kessler, R.C., et al. (2006). The prevalence and correlates National Resource Center on ADHD: A Program of
of adult ADHD in the United States: Results from the CHADD
National Comorbidity Survey Replication. American 4601 Presidents Drive, Suite 300
Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4):716–723. http://ajp. Lanham, MD 20706-4832
psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716 1-800-233-4050
MTA Cooperative Group. (1999). A 14-month randomized www.help4adhd.org
clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56,
12.
Hinshaw, S.P. & Arnold, L.E.
for the MTA Cooperative
Group (2015 Jan–Feb).
Attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, multimodal treatment,
and longitudinal outcome:
Evidence, paradox, and
challenge. WIREs Cognitive
Science, 6(1):39-52. http://
dx.doi.org/10.1002/wcs.1324
Owens, E., Cardoos, S.L., Hinshaw, S.P. (2015).
Developmental progression and gender differences among
individuals with ADHD. in Barkley, Russell A. (Ed).
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for
diagnosis and treatment (4th ed.). , (pp. 223–255). New
York, NY: Guilford Press.
Smith, B.H. & Shapiro, C.J. (2015). Combined treatments
for ADHD in Barkley, R.A. (Ed), (2015). Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook For Diagnosis and
Treatment (4th ed.)., (pp. 686–704). New York, NY:
Guilford Press.
Thapar, Anita; Cooper, Miriam; et al. (January 2013).
Practitioner Review: What have we learnt about the
causes of ADHD?, Journal of Child Psychology and
Psychiatry, 54(1):3-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469–
7610.2012.02611.x
Visser, S.N., Danielson, M.L., Bitsko, R.H., et al. (2014).
Trends in the Parent-Report of Health Care Provider-
Diagnosis and Medication Treatment for ADHD disorder:
United States, 2003–2011. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(1):34–46.
e2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.09.001
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