Assessment and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: part 2

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. In part 1 of this article, information regarding primary care assessment of ADHD was presented. Part 2 focuses on best practice guidelines for treatment once the diagnosis has been established. For most children, successful treatment of ADHD requires a multicomponent approach comprised of patient and family psychoeducation, use of medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (eg, stimulants) and/or behavioral interventions, and management of any psychiatric comorbid conditions. Furthermore, as ADHD is a chronic illness, primary care physicians will need to frequently reassess their patients and make treatment adjustments as needed.