Articles related to ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

This activity aims to educate the multidisciplinary care team treating pediatric ADHD, including psychiatrists, pediatricians, PCPs, pharmacists, and dietitians/nutritionists. After completion, participants will be better able to describe the role of dietary deficiencies of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and genetic variants of metabolism in the pathophysiology of ADHD; review the most recent data on the safety and efficacy of supplementation with EFAs for ADHD management in children and adolescents; differentiate dietary supplements from medical foods; and create personalized nutritional therapy plans for ADHD patients by considering the individual needs of each patient and the differences among available dietary products.

Misuse of prescription stimulants was associated with prior year treatment for depression, ADHD, and substance use disorder. Identified risk factors for stimulant misuse include use of prescription drugs in the past month (5.5 times increased risk) and use of illegal drugs in the past month (8 times higher risk).

Compared with enhanced drivers’ education, use of a computerized skills training program in teens learning to drive reduced two-second glances away from the road by 25% and reduced rates of collision or near-collision by 40%. These results persisted in the year after the training.

Eighty-eight children ages 6 through 12 were randomized to daily pine bark extract, methylphenidate, or placebo for 10 weeks. Total ADHD-Rating Scales scores decreased 29% with pine bark extract, 45% with methylphenidate, and 5% with placebo. Hyperactivity/impulsivity decreased 34% with pine bark extract and 36% with methylphenidate and increased 1% with placebo. Inattention decreased 25% with pine bark extract, 52% with methylphenidate, 9% with placebo. Adverse events were reported 5 times more frequently with methylphenidate than with pine bark.

Teva Pharmaceuticals is the primary supplier of both branded and generic versions of the stimulant, which is approved to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Teva has cited increased demand, workforce shortages, and manufacturing disruptions due to packaging constraints as reasons for the supply problems.

After reading this article, head over to this quiz to test your understanding of the findings of a triple-blind, crossover study that involved 173 ADHD-diagnosed children between the ages of 7 and 12. Children received daily education in science, social studies, and vocabulary for 25 minutes over the course of two successive sessions.