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Current Best Practices for Assessing and Treating Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Mental Health (WF Njoroge and TD Benton, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This article provides updated information about the diagnosis and assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), multimodal interventions, strategies for combining behavioral and pharmacological interventions, and approaches for treating ADHD when it occurs with other conditions.

Recent findings

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a well-documented genetic and neurobiological basis. The assessment of ADHD is grounded in criteria delineated in DSM-5 and includes an assessment of ADHD symptoms, symptom-related impairments, and comorbid conditions. Evidence-based interventions for ADHD include medication, in particular stimulants, and behavioral treatments, including behavioral parent training, classroom behavioral intervention, peer behavioral intervention, and organization skills training. Strategies for combining and sequencing behavioral and medication treatments need to take into account family preferences, problem severity, intervention accessibility, safety considerations, and family level of engagement and motivation. Disparities in ADHD service use as a function of socioeconomic and minority status point to the need for system reforms to improve access to care for all children and adolescents.

Summary

Evidence-based interventions for ADHD need to be more accessible for children and families, and strategies need to integrate the efforts of health providers, mental health professionals, and educators.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2716 South St, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA

    Thomas J. Power PhD

  2. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3440 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Jamie Hom MD

  3. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3550 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Patty Huang MD

Authors
  1. Thomas J. Power PhD
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  2. Jamie Hom MD
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  3. Patty Huang MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas J. Power PhD.

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Conflict of Interest

Patty Huang declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Thomas J. Power has a financial interest in the ADHD Rating Scale-5, published by Guilford Publications, which is a measure used to assess ADHD. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has received support from Shire and Pfizer Grants for Learning and Change, which have supported Dr. Power’s efforts in educating families and physicians.

Jamie Hom reports grants from Medgenics, outside the submitted work.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mental Health

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Power, T.J., Hom, J. & Huang, P. Current Best Practices for Assessing and Treating Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Curr Treat Options Peds 4, 94–107 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40746-018-0111-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40746-018-0111-6

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