Articles related to ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

This 15-year multicohort survey of legal and illicit drug use among teens found that middle schools and high schools with higher levels of prescription stimulant therapy for ADHD tended to have the highest rates of prescription stimulant misuse. Other discovered associations included more parents with higher levels of education, non-Northeastern location, and more non-Hispanic White students.

Diagnosing – and treating – ADHD in adults is not difficult and can be life-changing, with patients noting improvements in relationships, functional ability, and overall quality of life.

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).

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.