Register to reserve your spot for this free webinar and webinar replay ►

Not available November 19? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals who struggle with emotional dysregulation, aggression, self-harm, and other problem behaviors. DBT is an intensive, highly structured program that was originally created for adults in the 1970s and has since been adapted for children and adolescents. It can be an effective treatment for ADHD because it aids in the development of skills that support emotional regulation, problem-solving, and self-acceptance.

DBT works by helping children develop skills that decrease unwanted feelings and unhelpful behaviors, as well as skills that help them to accept difficult feelings about themselves and others without judgment. DBT patients participate in one-on-one therapy, group skills training, and/or phone coaching from their therapist. Parents learn the same skills as their children so that they can reinforce those skills outside of therapy.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• About the conditions that DBT treats in children and adolescents, and who would be a good fit for this therapy
• About DBT as a treatment model and how it works
• How DBT can support children and adolescents in managing mood, impulsivity, and anxiety
• About DBT strategies to support children in distress
  

Have a question for our expert? There will be an opportunity to post questions for the presenter during the live webinar.

Meet the Expert Speaker

Lauren Allerhand, Psy.D., is Co-Director of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Programs and a psychologist for the Mood Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute in the San Francisco Bay Area. She specializes in the evidence-based assessment and treatment of youth struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder. She has extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Dr. Allerhand is particularly passionate about providing DBT to improve the lives of high-risk, diagnostically complex youth who struggle with emotion dysregulation, suicidality, and self-injury.

Dr. Allerhand’s clinical practice also emphasizes supporting parents of children and teens with emotion dysregulation, oppositional behavior, or ADHD through evidence-based intervention. She has specialized trained in a DBT parenting intervention and Parent Management Training for parents of older children and teenagers. Dr. Allerhand is also certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based intervention for families with preschool-aged children.

DBT for ADHD: More Resources

• Download: What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
• Read: Overview of ADHD Therapies
• Q&A: Why Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation is Central to ADHD
• eBook: The Parents’ Guide to Raising a Teen with ADHD

Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is…

Play Attention: Play Attention, inspired by NASA technology and backed by Tufts University research, offers customized plans to improve executive function, emotional regulation, and behavior through behavior therapy principles and mindfulness. Each family is assigned a personal focus coach, and our family plan provides tailored programs for both kids and parents, so everyone can thrive together. Schedule a consultation or take our ADHD test to discover how Play Attention can support your family’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. Call 828-676-2240. www.playattention.com

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

Certificate of Attendance: For information on how to purchase the certificate of attendance option (cost $10), register for the webinar, then look for instructions in the email you’ll receive one hour after it ends. The certificate of attendance link will also be available here, on the webinar replay page, several hours after the live webinar. ADDitude does not offer CEU credits.

Closed captions available.

Register to reserve your spot for this free webinar and webinar replay ►

Not available October 22? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.

ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are brain-based disorders that co-exist at elevated rates. Studies have found that approximately 21% of children with OCD have ADHD as well, though some clinicians estimate an even higher co-occurrence rate. For caregivers, navigating a dual diagnosis of pediatric OCD and ADHD can be confusing and counterintuitive because these conditions may seem contradictory.

Contrary to commonly held beliefs, many pediatric OCD presentations have little or nothing to do with the fear of germs. In fact, the number one compulsion for both adults and children with OCD is avoidance. For example, a child may see school as a trigger for social phobia, causing panic and anxiety.

In this one-hour webinar, caregivers and educators will deepen their understanding of OCD and learn how to identify and support this dual diagnosis in children with ADHD.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• About common misconceptions pediatric presentations of OCD, which have led to chronic underdiagnosing
• How to identify the less common presentations of OCD, using examples of common OCD presentations in neurodivergent children
• How OCD and ADHD can interfere with learning. For example, OCD can lead to and intensify school avoidance
• About the treatment of concurrent OCD and ADHD, which usually involves medication, parent training, school-based accommodations, and Exposure Response Prevention therapy
• About typical outcomes and common roadblocks to recovery

Have a question for our expert? There will be an opportunity to post questions for the presenter during the live webinar.

Meet the Expert Speaker

Natalia Aíza, LPC, is a seasoned therapist, parent trainer, writer, and entrepreneur. Her core missions are to facilitate awareness and healing for those with OCD, and to amplify OCD competency among mental health practitioners. She is the co-founder of Kairos Wellness Collective, an innovative therapy center that specializes in OCD and anxiety disorders. In the last three years, Kairos has expanded to four locations in Colorado and has served over 2.000 families and individual clients. Natalia also advocates for OCD awareness and provides free psychoeducation on her popular instagram account @letstalk.ocd. Natalia received her BA in Literature at Harvard University, and MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Palo Alto University.

OCD in Children with ADHD: More Resources

• Download: How Are Symptoms of OCD Different from ADHD?
  
• Read: Does OCD Always Come with Anxiety?
  
• Read: “I’ve Called My OCD Compulsions ‘Screaming Mimis’ Since I Was 7”
• eBook: 9 Conditions Often Diagnosed with ADHD

Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is….

Accentrate® products contain omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals in their active forms to address nutritional deficiencies and support your mental health. These supplements provide Brain Ready Nutrition and support attention, focus, and emotional balance. | fenixhealthscience.com

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

Certificate of Attendance: For information on how to purchase the certificate of attendance option (cost $10), register for the webinar, then look for instructions in the email you’ll receive one hour after it ends. The certificate of attendance link will also be available here, on the webinar replay page, several hours after the live webinar. ADDitude does not offer CEU credits.

Closed captions available.

Stimulant medications, mainly methylphenidate and amphetamine, remain the primary medications used to treat ADHD. For more than 80 years, stimulant medications have been used to safely and effectively treat ADHD, however some basic questions from patients linger. I’ll address a few of them here.

Q: “How Do Patients Decide Whether to Try Medication for ADHD?”

I believe people with ADHD are best served by medication. If your doctor recommends medication, try it. If it helps and doesn’t cause side effects, continue taking it under medical supervision. If the medication isn’t effective or causes side effects, talk with your doctor about alternatives.

At first, most of my patients want no part of ADHD medication. My job is to make sure they make their decisions based on facts, rather than rumors and negative press. Once they know the facts, 90% of my patients decide to give meds a try. If you don’t like the medication, stop taking it. It will be out of your system within a day. But opting not to even try medication is like saying to your eye doctor, “Let’s try a year of squinting before we try eyeglasses.”

[Free Guide: What You Need to Know About ADHD Medications]

Q: “How Do Providers Decide Which ADHD Medication to Prescribe?”

Though there are basic parameters, patients’ responses are unpredictable. How a given medication affects one person may be completely different from how it impacts someone else. So how do we decide? It’s trial and error. For the first trial, I usually offer methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) or amphetamine (e.g., Adderall).

Q: “What Is a Good Starting Dose of ADHD Medication?”

I start low and go slow. Prescribers may change the dose every three days if a patient is not seeing any improvement. Some people need only a small dose, while others need a bigger one. For example, Ritalin at 5mg or 10mg once or twice a day is a typical starting dose for some kids.

Once it’s established that a medication works, the prescriber may switch your child to a long-acting methylphenidate like Concerta or Ritalin LA, or a long-acting amphetamine like Vyvanse or Adderall XR, which is taken after breakfast. Some children take an immediate-release Ritalin or Adderall, which I call a “homework pill,” around 3 or 4 p.m. as well.

Q: “How Do You Know If Your Child’s ADHD Medication Is Working?”

Before your child starts medication, make a list with your doctor about what you hope it will address. You might say that you hope your child will get dressed and out the door without a struggle in the morning, that they will finish their homework more quickly, that they will be less forgetful and get better grades, and that they will be more engaged in class and less disruptive.

[Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD Medication]

Use your list as an objective measure of the medication’s effect. If you see no improvement in your child, ask your prescriber to find a dose of a medication that provides symptom improvement with no side effects (other than appetite suppression without unwanted weight loss). Keep in mind that about 20% of people with ADHD don’t benefit from any medication.

Q: “What Medication Do You Turn to If the First Two Stimulants Don’t Work?”

I might have my patients try Mydayis, a very long-acting form of amphetamine. The non-stimulants approved for ADHD include Strattera (atomoxetine); Qelbree (viloxazine); Intuniv or Tenex (guanfacine); and Kapvay (clonidine). Several medications that have proven effective for ADHD off-label include the stimulant modafinil (Provigil or Nuvigil); Wellbutrin (bupropion); and amantadine, a dopaminergic anti-viral agent that’s primarily used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Q: “What Are the Most Common Side Effects of ADHD Medications?”

Appetite suppression in children is the most common side effect of stimulants. Less common side effects in adults and children include elevated blood pressure and heart rate, and insomnia. This is not a complete list of potential side effects. If you notice any health changes not listed above, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s important to monitor weight, sleep, heart rate, blood pressure, and moodiness or irritability. If you or your child has problems with moodiness, weight loss, or sleep, talk with your doctor and make changes promptly.

For further details on ADHD medications, including dosages, precautions, and interactions, visit the WebMD Drugs & Medication Database.

Managing Medications for ADHD: Next Steps

Free Download: What to Ask Before Starting ADHD Medication
Q&A: “How Do Doctors Decide Which ADHD Medication to Prescribe First?”
Read: How Safe Are ADHD Medications?
Find: ADHD Specialist or Clinic Near You

Edward “Ned” Hallowell, M.D., is a child and adult psychiatrist and a leading authority in the field of ADHD.

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

This quote perfectly sums up the pervasive fear among adults and caregivers of children diagnosed with ADHD. And it remains as detrimental now as it was when authors Edward Hallowell, M.D., and John Ratey, M.D., first published it in their book ADHD 2.0 (#CommissionsEarned).

The first-line medications for ADHD are some of the most effective, best studied, most scrutinized, longest known, and safest drugs in all of medicine. They have been safely prescribed to children for decades. Nonetheless, no other class of medications in virtually all of medicine inspires more baseless fears, intentional disinformation, and wild beliefs as do the stimulants used to treat ADHD. Interestingly, these fears are almost entirely an American phenomenon that hardly exists elsewhere in the world.

ADHD and Stimulants: A Disinformation Campaign Begins

In the late 1970s, a public backlash against treating ADHD with stimulant medication began after groups launched nationally organized, and extraordinarily effective, disinformation campaigns. This instilled a climate of fear among physicians, parents, and educators, and sowed anxiety and confusion among the public. Moreover, it planted in the minds of Americans the otherwise nonsensical idea that it was the treatment of ADHD that was dangerous — not the untreated medical condition itself.

It is also important to make a distinction between side effects due to stimulant medications and those unpleasant experiences caused by poor clinician training and experience. Finding a good clinician is much more difficult than it should be. Establishment medical education has failed miserably to prepare clinicians to diagnose and treat ADHD at all ages.

[Free Download: The Caregiver’s Guide to ADHD Treatment]

The goals of medication treatment include:

• Rule #1: The right medication and dosage matched to the right person should be dramatically beneficial and have virtually no side effects.
• Rule #2: Finely tuned ADHD medication should help you be “the best version of you.”

The Dangers of Untreated ADHD

Clinical neuropsychologist Russell Barkley, Ph.D., has demonstrated that untreated ADHD is not just highly impairing, it can be deadly. In fact, having ADHD lowers a person’s estimated life expectancy by 12.7 years.¹ Barkley has noted that most of the contributors to this mortality are lifestyle-related and can be reversed with treatment.

Research shows that untreated ADHD, with its impulsivity and inattention, raises the risks for serious traffic accidents, addiction, unsafe sexual practices, and self-harm, as well as challenges with academic performance, relationship difficulties, financial struggles, and chronic stress for children, teens, and adults.

ADHD and Stimulants: Facts Over Fears

Baseless fears about stimulant medication have scared caregivers away from seeking proper treatment for their children diagnosed with ADHD. The benefits of ADHD medication, based on decades of research and medical practice, used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy, are profound for many people. The risks stemming from untreated ADHD are equally profound.

[Read: What Are the Long-Term Effects of ADHD Medication on the Brain?]

These are the fears I hear most from caregivers about ADHD medication, and my responses:

Fear #1: Will medication change my child’s personality?

The first-line stimulant medications affect a person with ADHD differently than they do a neurotypical person. Stimulant medications calm and soothe the hyperarousal and loss of emotional control associated with ADHD. A neurotypical person on an ADHD stimulant, by contrast, becomes more agitated, jittery, irritable, and unable to slow down.

Fear #2: Are stimulants addictive?

Having ADHD increases a person’s risk of substance use disorder, regardless of whether they take medication. However, one large study of adolescents found that “current pharmacotherapy for ADHD is associated with lower risk for substance use problems as long as medication treatment is maintained, indicating that pharmacotherapy is likely to be a key part of efforts to reduce substance use risk in those with ADHD.²

Fear #3: What if my child loses weight on a stimulant and doesn’t grow?

Appetite suppression is a common side effect of stimulant medications that goes away when the medicine is taken consistently enough to develop a tolerance to it. Most children ultimately gain weight and grow just as they did before taking medication.

For a small portion of elementary school-age children, most of whom were already picky eaters, the side effect of appetite suppression does create a problem. If a child is losing weight, or just not gaining weight for more than one month, the protocol for reversing this is to:

• Lower the dose of stimulant.
• If that does not work, switch stimulant molecules
• If this is ineffective, use the lowest dose of a gentle antihistamine that is FDA-approved for children 3 years of age and older. While this is an off-label use, it often helps to maintain a very beneficial ADHD treatment until the child becomes tolerant of the medication. Antihistamines like cyproheptadine, for example, return appetite to previous levels for about six hours. They are usually taken 30 minutes before lunch and dinner.

Fear #4: What if a stimulant worsens my child’s anxiety?

ADHD shares a high comorbidity with anxiety disorder. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 23 studies of children diagnosed with anxiety who had started on ADHD stimulants and found that anxiety decreased significantly in almost all cases.³

Arm yourself with knowledge. Read about the findings from research studies that have investigated ADHD medication. Then you can make a rational, informed decision about what is best for your child and/or yourself.

ADHD and Stimulants: Next Steps

• Free Download: Reader Scorecard of ADHD Treatments
• Read: Treating a Child with ADHD Medication Diminishes His Future Risk of Substance Abuse
• Read: ADHD Medication Side Effects No One Should Tolerate

William W. Dodson, M.D., is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He was named a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 2012 in recognition of his contributions to the field of adult ADHD.

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Sources

¹ Barkley, R. A., & Fischer, M. (2019). Hyperactive child syndrome and estimated life expectancy at young adult follow-up: the role of ADHD persistence and other potential predictors. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(9), 907–923. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718816164

² Schepis, T. S., Werner, K. S., Figueroa, O., McCabe, V. V., Schulenberg, J. E., Veliz, P. T., Wilens, T. E., & McCabe, S. E. (2023). Type of medication therapy for ADHD and stimulant misuse during adolescence: a cross-sectional multi-cohort national study. EClinicalMedicine, 58, 101902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101902

³ Coughlin, C. G., Cohen, S. C., Mulqueen, J. M., Ferracioli-Oda, E., Stuckelman, Z. D., & Bloch, M. H. (2015). Meta-Analysis: Reduced risk of anxiety with psychostimulant treatment in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 25(8), 611–617. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2015.0075

Earlier this month, the Justice Department charged two top officers at the telehealth company Done Global with allegedly distributing Adderall and other stimulants for ADHD to patients who officials said did not merit a proper diagnosis. While health officials warned that the “disruption” to Done could affect as many as 50,000 adult patients¹, many of whom were already impacted by the ongoing ADHD medication shortage, this criminal action highlights another important issue: the limited access to clinical care for people with ADHD in the United States.

“When a company such as Done is held legally responsible and their policies are investigated, patients under clinicians’ care may lose their prescriber, leaving them abandoned without medical care,” says David Goodman, M.D., an assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“The immediate need for medication is not easily resolved because changing providers typically involves a delay. Without effective medication, patients’ daily performance is compromised and may lead to conflicts at home or reduced work productivity,” Goodman says. “The negative consequences mount the longer they are off their medication.”

Rise and Fall of ADHD Telehealth

Done and other ADHD telehealth services surged in popularity during the COVID pandemic as Americans in lockdown were unable to schedule in-person doctor visits. At the same time, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) loosened telemedicine rules regulating the prescription and distribution of controlled substances, including stimulants to treat ADHD.

“Done came out of real patient pain points, including access and wait times” for clinical care, says Jacob Behrens, M.D., CEO of Envision ADHD Clinic. “They expanded as they did for a number of reasons, including how poorly our health care system met the needs of this particular population. This issue is and has been real since well before the pandemic.”

Of the 30,000 to 50,000 patients who used Done and may be seeking new providers, Behrens said: “I can’t begin to imagine how the existing health care system will absorb this population. I’m just hoping that we can use this as an educational opportunity for a deeper dive/postmortem analysis of in what ways did this improve patient care and where did it go wrong?”

Maggie Sibley, Ph.D., a psychologist, researcher, and author, suggested that the Done investigation into fraudulent stimulant prescription practices might actually help alleviate the stimulant shortage for patients with ADHD.

“If many Done clients were filling Adderall prescriptions for non-medical reasons, then presumably they were taking medications that should have gone to people with ADHD,” she says. “Eliminating the non-legitimate use of stimulants might hopefully help with the demand side of the stimulant shortage. People will be able to get their medications more easily because they are reserved for people who truly have ADHD.”

ADHD Treatment Alternatives

Greg Mattingly, M.D., an associate clinical professor at Washington University School of Medicine, says he is hopeful that improved ADHD awareness and education, overall, will mean that patients ask their providers about new medications like Xelstrym, Jornay PM, and Azstarys, which are not experiencing the shortfalls that have dogged Adderall and Vyvanse. Patients who understand the full spectrum of ADHD treatment options may be more likely to access care during the ongoing stimulant shortage.

“The rising number of prescriptions during the past several years² has caught the DEA’s attention,” says Ann Childress, past president of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD). The DEA sets quotas for the production of controlled substances in the United States and is widely criticized for failing to allow enough production of stimulant medication to keep pace with new diagnoses.

“We are still dealing with a stimulant shortage, and I am still having to switch patients’ medications because their regular medication is not available,” Childress says. “Most clinicians that I speak with are having the same difficulties. Several medications that are not controlled substances are approved for the treatment of ADHD by the FDA. Patients may want to discuss these medications with their providers.”

Goodman advised that some hospital pharmacies may fill prescriptions for hard-to-find stimulant medications if those stimulants are ordered by an affiliated provider. He suggested that patients inquire with their providers about this option, as hospital pharmacies may experience less patient demand than neighborhood or chain pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens.

“Hospitals that have public community pharmacies can typically fill the same prescriptions that any other community pharmacy can fill,” says Aretha L. Hankinson, J.D., director of media relations for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. “They generally also experience the same allocations and shortages as other community pharmacies.”

Sources

¹ CDC. Disrupted Access to Prescription Stimulant Medications Could Increase Risk of Injury and Overdose. June 13, 2024. https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2024/han00510.asp

² Danielson ML, Bohm MK, Newsome K, et al. Trends in Stimulant Prescription Fills Among Commercially Insured Children and Adults — United States, 2016–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:327–332. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7213a1

What I found in my research was confusing. Assessing whether a medication was effectively treating ADHD seemed heavily reliant on subjective reporting. How was I to reliably tell if my child’s ADHD medication and dose were really working as well as they should?

I was frustrated and determined to get clear results – and then I had a lightbulb moment.

The Truth Before Our Eyes

One day, I was reading with my kid. I watched as their eyes darted all over the page, the focus slipping away right in front of me. This must happen to so many people with ADHD when they try to read, I thought.

That’s when it hit me: When we read, our eyes follow a specific pattern. Unless we have ADHD, and then our wandering minds might lead to wandering eyes, making our reading patterns different and more erratic.

[Get This Free Download: How Do We Know the Medication Is Working?]

Eye movement is key; tracking it could reveal patterns and lead to a methodology for ultimately measuring focus. I brought the idea to my sister, an AI and bioinformatics expert. Together, we began to use AI to analyze reading processes and eye-movement patterns. We found that by tracking these patterns, we could develop a tool that would provide a clear, data-driven picture of how ADHD medication affects concentration and impulsivity, thus, a way to measure treatment efficacy.

Turning a Novel Idea Into Reality

Enter Ravid, my rollerblading buddy who also has ADHD and expertise in digital health product development. The three of us made this wild idea a reality. While Ravid and my sister built the product, I reached out to clinicians.

I learned in those conversations that there was no tool available that could objectively track medication efficacy for a patient outside of the clinic. Clinicians and researchers loved our approach. Reading is universal but complex enough to capture different aspects of ADHD, and eye tracking can reveal both concentration and impulse control levels.

And that’s how iFocus was born. You can log in to our site from a webcam-enabled computer and read a paragraph with and without your meds. Our tool will track your eye movement through your webcam as you read and establish a score representing your progress compared to your baseline.

[Read This Special Report: ADHD Treatments Scorecard from Readers]

Each session only takes a few minutes, but the impact, we think, can be life changing.

Putting People in Charge of Their ADHD Treatment

Recently, my kid started a new medication, and we used iFocus to find the right dose. The experience was completely different. They tested themselves, reported how they felt, and we had meaningful discussions about the results.

The dose where my child felt best was lower than I anticipated, but both my child’s report and iFocus results confirmed that the dose was working. This is just one example of how iFocus empowers people with ADHD to take control of their treatment journey.

ADHD Medication Efficacy: Next Steps

• Read: How Can I Tell If the ADHD Medication is Working?
• Read: ADHD Medications Rarely Work Perfectly on the First Try
• Read: Stimulant, Non-Stimulant, or Both? Combination Therapy for ADHD

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Immersive virtual reality-based interventions (VR) can improve cognitive deficits associated with ADHD in children, according to a study published in 2023 in the journal Virtual Reality. Compared to active and passive control groups, children with ADHD experienced positive outcomes with large effect sizes global cognitive functioning, attention, and memory when using immersive VR therapies.¹

In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 149 participants were assigned to the immersive VR group and 172 participants to the control group. The study found a significant difference in performance outcomes for attention (g = 0.94) and global cognition (g = 1.06) in favor of the immersive VR group. Only one RCT assessed for memory outcomes, but as with attention and global cognition, the VR group showed a significant advantage (g = 1.81). Improvements were greater for children who were not otherwise treated for ADHD.

Efficacy of Immersive VR

Virtual reality is increasingly used in healthcare, and evaluations by clinicians have been positive. ^{2, 3} Patients say that brain training — an umbrella term used to describe cognitive tools like VR — is effective at improving ADHD symptoms. In a 2024 treatment survey conducted by ADDitude, brain training ranked in the top three most effective ADHD treatment options according to caregivers and adults with ADHD.

XRHealth is the maker of one commercially available VR therapy for ADHD. “Applications for kids with ADHD include a boxing-like game in which players choose which stimuli to punch, which to avoid, and what distractions to ignore,” said Randy Kulman, Ph.D., in “A User’s Guide to Digital Therapeutics for ADHD.”

VR-based interventions may also be useful in the classroom, according to the researchers. “Given the positive association between global cognitive functioning and academic performance, and social functioning, VR-based interventions may benefit the daily life of children with ADHD in terms of school performance and peer relations.”

Yet, brain training was also one of the least utilized treatment options used by ADDitude survey respondents. Out of more than 12,000 respondents, only 6% of caregivers and adults reported having used it to treat ADHD for their child or personally. Lack of personalization to patient needs, treatment goals, and knowledge on the added value of VR have been cited as barriers to implementation.³Access to providers who have experience treating ADHD was the biggest overall barrier to care, according to survey respondents.

Potential Moderators

Researchers performed a second meta-analysis to identify potential moderators of the effect size of global cognitive functioning, for which there was significant substantial heterogeneity (I² = 71.23%). Improvements in global cognition were observed across all participant ages and intervention durations, regardless of diagnostic status (formal vs. informal), novelty of headsets (new vs. old), or control group intervention (passive vs. active). The study did not assess for moderators of attention alone, for which heterogeneity was also significant (I² = 68.26%).

The significance of moderators on immersive VR-based outcomes are mixed. Research has shown that longer interventions, younger participants, and passive control groups may lead to different outcomes, the researchers noted. Follow-up measurements could help “assess the long-term effects of VR interventions and whether improvements made on cognitive functioning outcomes from baseline to post-intervention are maintained after the intervention has ceased.”

Limitations and Future Research

The systematic review and meta-analysis was the first to address treatment adherence and safety of immersive VR in improving cognitive deficits in children with ADHD. Compared to control groups, drop-out rates were similar across groups, and there were no adverse effects. Researchers concluded that immersive VR “is feasible in terms of treatment adherence and a safe cognitive rehabilitation tool.”

A rigorous literature search was conducted for the current study according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook, and improvements were observed even after correcting for publication bias. However, of the limited studies that were included, all were judged to have an unclear risk of bias based on randomization and selective reporting. Results should be interpreted cautiously.

Control group interventions included non-immersive VR, medication, psychotherapy, cognitive training, neurofeedback, hemoencephalographic biofeedback, being placed on a waiting list, or no treatment. Head-mounted displays were required to be considered an immersive VR-based intervention.

Learn about the current state of affairs in implementing VR technology in healthcare here.

Sources

¹Corrigan, N., Păsărelu, C.R., & Voinescu, A. (2023). Immersive virtual reality for improving cognitive deficits in children with ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Virtual Reality, 1-20. doi:10.1007/s10055-023-00768-1.

²Zangiacomi, A., Flori, V., Greci, L., Scaglione, A., Arlati, S., & Bernardelli, G. (2022). an immersive virtual reality-based application for treating ADHD: A remote evaluation of acceptance and usability. Digital Health, 8. doi:10.1177/20552076221143242

³Kouijzer, M., Kip, H., Bouman, Y., Kelders, S. (2023). Implementation of virtual reality in healthcare: a scoping review on the implementation process of virtual reality in various healthcare settings. Implement Sci Commun, 4(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s43058-023-00442-2.

Adults and caregivers reported that the process of searching for the right medication — the one with highest efficacy, fewest side effects, and covered by insurance — is often frustrating, but essential. Persevering through the often confusing, time-consuming, and inconvenient process leads to better management of ADHD symptoms in the end for most. Here, ADDitude readers share their experiences, both the bothers and benefits of trialing medications.

“There was one person in an ADHD support group who made a comment that changed my life. She mentioned that the seventh medication she tried was the right one for her. That made me decide to give medication a second chance, and try a few more. I could not have finished my Ph.D. without it.” — Heather, Canada

“Trial and error is generally a nightmare. School is not the best place to observe how a new med is or isn’t working; teachers usually don’t have the time, energy, or patience to report back accurately. We also had to change formulations several times due to the whims of insurance.” — An ADDitude Reader

“There are not enough resources to help people navigate going on and off medications while trialing. How long should I be on it? What about side effects? How does this relate to hormone changes throughout the month for women?” — Madeline, UK

[Download: Free Guide to Hormones & ADHD in Women]

“Medication trials have taken so long because our doctors are scared to do anything. It’s something that should be done quickly to find the optimal dose but they keep us in limbo because they’re not confident in their ADHD knowledge. We’re having to wait and wait and wait while our kids are struggling. It has a ripple effect on our entire household.” — An ADDitude Reader

“The process of trying out one medication after another slowly and methodically is very difficult to manage for most people who have ADHD.” — Tyler, California

“It was 10 years before I found a medication that helped me more than it made me feel worse. It’s important to kick a medication if it’s not working, even if it has worked previously.” — Juniper, Oregon

[Read: The ADHD Medication Stopped Working! How to Troubleshoot Treatment]

“Trial and error is hard. Then you find a medication that works and the manufacturer stops making it or the generic version, and you have to start the whole process again. So frustrating.” — An ADDitude Reader

“Finding the right match for children takes time and clear communication with schools and caregivers, which is sometimes very difficult.” — An ADDitude Reader

“I don’t feel that I have found the right medication yet. I’m very sensitive to medication and side effects also make it difficult to try different ones.” — An ADDitude Reader

“I have a really hard time tracking my symptoms and noticing changes on my own.” — Ashley, Minnesota

“The process of finding the right one can be very frustrating, but it’s worth being patient.” — Ali, North Carolina

“I wish there were easier ways to find the right medications for people with ADHD rather than trial and error.” — An ADDitude Reader

“Be patient. Give the medication time as you adjust dosage. Try other types if you need to. Everyone is different, and when you find the one that works, it is life changing in a fabulous way!” — Marcia, New York

“I’m hopeful that neuroscience will someday be able to treat ADHD without endless failed attempts with medication.” — An ADDitude Reader

Medication for ADHD Trial and Error: Next Steps

• Read: How Do We Know the Treatment Is Working?
• Read: Time to Switch to a New ADHD Medication?
• Watch: How to Optimize ADHD Medication – Achieving Better Symptom Management
• Learn: ADHD Medication Options – Stimulants, Non-stimulants & More

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

The comments below are a true testament to the difference a trained provider can make in your ADHD journey. These ADDitude readers recall interactions with clinicians who made them feel seen and understood… and offer hope to those adults and caregivers who are struggling to get their needs met.

Patient-Provider Relationship: Positive Interactions

“As soon as I met my current psychiatrist, we clicked. I felt like she understood my symptoms and my struggles right from the beginning. It has made it easier to trust her with details about how my meds are helping or not helping — knowing that she will believe me.” — Jenna

“We had a really great mental health/psych evaluation years ago. The provider wrote a very wonderful story for my child to help him understand his diagnosis. It was based on the animal character to which my son related best. My son, sadly, picked a Sasquatch, which just about broke my heart. He said it was because he liked to just be left alone. The provider wrote a story about how the Sasquatch elders would help him to not be so alone.” — Katie, Oregon

“When talking with my new gynecologist about hormone replacement therapy, I advised her I may need a higher dose of Estradiol due to ADHD. She was unfamiliar with the ADHD-estrogen relationship but said she was always interested in learning more. I sent her a few links to studies (the scant few available so far), and we were able to develop a few options for treatment in conjunction with my ADHD meds.” — Paulette

[Free Class: ADHD Treatment Guide for Adults]

“…My son’s psychiatrist turned to me and said, ‘Your son has a neurodivergent brain. It’s like his brain processes information in a different language.’ We had recently been in a foreign country, so it was easy to compare. That wonderful psychiatrist was the start of our journey to understanding and providing appropriate support for our burnt-out teenager.” — Karen, New Zealand

“When we connected with our new psychiatrist, it was the first time we felt ‘seen’ and understood by someone. With a complex diagnosis of ADHD and autism in an extremely bright child, it was difficult to get someone to see [my son’s] difficulties. Once we realized she got it, it was such a relief. She said, ‘We have a lot of work to do…but we’ll get there. Don’t worry.’” — Leslie, Pennsylvania

“When talking to a psychologist for stress management, he just tossed out that I had ADHD. I had suspected it for a long time, but I felt like someone had finally noticed why things were so stressful.” — Ann, California

“When I finally got to see a psychiatrist, who confirmed my suspicion that I had ADHD (at age 35), I felt very validated. My family doctor had just put me on antidepressants, which didn’t work for me at all. It was great to know I wasn’t actually crazy.” — Claire, Canada

[Read: “Here’s How I Found an ADHD Specialist Near Me.”]

“We hired an occupational therapist to help our son with self-regulation. She saw all the good things in our son that we didn’t see due to the impulsivity issues he was having at school, summer camps, etc. She really helped us to see him for the amazing child he is and opened our eyes to the curiosity behind behavior that got him into trouble.” — Tiffany, Canada

“When my son was in elementary school, the school counselor had a wonderful relationship and bond with him. During a meeting at school, she told me: “Everyone focuses on his behavior challenges, but I want to acknowledge his personality and what a bright and caring kid he is. Yes, he has lots of challenges, but he’s also a great kid. Don’t forget that.” This was after a serious incident involving my son. I felt that she was really on our side and truly cared about him. The others in the meeting were talking negatively about him; she stood up for him.” — An ADDitude reader

“For me, it was a counselor at a crisis center. This was before my ADHD diagnosis, and I was in a depression/anxiety crisis in which my significant other had called 911. The police response took me to this center, and the counselor on duty (it was after midnight and she was the only one there) happened to be the most amazing fit for me. I usually would resist speaking to counselors in these settings, but something about her had me feeling comfortable enough to be honest. She said things that ‘clicked’ and got my wheels turning, which propelled me to seek out a diagnosis. Two months later, I was finally getting the correct diagnosis of ADHD, and my life changed forever.” — Laura, Oregon

The Patient-Provider Relationship: Next Steps

• ADDitude Directory: Find an ADHD Specialist Near You
• Free Guide: 25 Things to Love About ADHD
• Deep Dive: ADHD’s Pediatrician Problem

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Teens aged 18 to 19 are more likely than any other age group to stop taking prescribed medication for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study published in The Lancet.¹ The study, which sought to determine the rate of ADHD treatment discontinuation across the lifespan, found that 61% of young adults (ages 18 to 24) discontinued treatment within a year of beginning it, almost double the rate of discontinuation in kids under 12.

The retrospective, observational study analyzed population-based databases from Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the United States, to track patterns of medication initiation, persistence, and discontinuation in the five years after starting treatment. Included in the study were 1,229,972 individuals (60% males, 40% females), aged four and older.

The study revealed that one year after beginning treatment, medication was discontinued by:

• 61% of young adults (aged 18 to 24)
• 53% of adolescents (aged 12 to 17)
• 52% of adults (aged 25 and older)
• 36% of children (aged 4 to 11)

The age at which medication was most commonly discontinued was between 18 and 19 years old.

Medication Adherence Challenges

The reasons teens, adults, and children stop taking medication are plentiful and varied. According to a recent ADDitude treatment survey with more than 11,000 respondents, the top reasons cited by adults and caregivers included:

• Side effects
• Medication availability
• Comorbid conditions
• High cost
• A lack of information and metrics to gauge efficacy
• Availability of providers who understand ADHD

This last barrier to medication continuation is particularly challenging for adults, both young and old, says William Dodson, M.D., in his article “4 Reasons Adults Give Up on ADHD Medication.”

“It’s not easy for patients to find clinicians who are knowledgeable about diagnosing and treating adult ADHD,”² Dodson explains. “Limited experience with pharmacotherapy may result in difficulty gauging a patient’s response to medication and optimizing accordingly.”

The trial-and-error process, in which patients explore the efficacy of different dosages, formulations and possibly different types of ADHD medication, is essential to discovering an optimal treatment plan for ADHD, which varies widely from person to person, even within the same family. This often onerous process can be made far less confusing and stressful when patients work with a clinician who is highly knowledgeable about ADHD. Such a clinician can address the concerns that often prevent patients from starting medication, persevering through the trial-and-error process, and continuing consistent treatment.

“If people are ambivalent and fearful about trying medication, I found they commonly give up at the first sign of difficulty,” Dodson tells ADDitude. “They are often relieved that their fears have been proven correct and that the subject of medication is off the table.”

Unique Considerations for Young Adults and Teens with ADHD

The study’s key finding — that young adults aged 18 to 24 are more likely than any other age group to stop taking medication — is one that resonates with many parents and clinicians, who often find that adolescents resist ADHD medication. This causes concern because young adulthood can be a challenging time, as teens transition to more independent living, begin navigating college, and/or start a job.

Young adults can discontinue medication for a unique set of reasons that relate to their growth and development, according to Wes Crenshaw, Ph.D., and Larry Silver, M.D., in the ADDitude article titled “When Your Teen Refuses to Take ADHD Medication.” These reasons include:

• Exerting independence
• Trying to fit in with peers
• Concerns about “flattening” of personality
• Appetite suppression and sleep trouble

“The best way to sell medication to a teen or young adult is with honesty,” explain Crenshaw and Silver. “Listen to your teen’s complaints, and validate them; Managing medication is difficult, after all. For most children, teens, and adults who have been correctly diagnosed with ADHD, part of accepting the condition is to accept the implications of treatment: On one hand, ‘We can help you,’ and on the other, ‘Treatment is not a walk in the park.’”

For teens and young adults who are resistant to medication but benefit from it, Crenshaw and Silver advise suggesting to teens that they try an experiment. Teens take their ADHD medication for a week, then skip it for a week. During both periods of time, teens should take detailed notes about how they’re doing academically, emotionally and socially. For younger teens who live at home, parents can do the same, and teachers can be enlisted to offer feedback. Have the teen compare the notes from the medicated week with the notes from the non-medicated week. This may help them see the situation more objectively and can lead to treatment continuation.

Sources

¹Brikell, I. Yao, H. Li, L. Astrup, A. Gao, L. Gillies, M. (2023). ADHD medication discontinuation and persistence across the lifespan: a retrospective observational study using population-based databases. The Lancet. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00332-2

²Goodman, D. W., Surman, C. B., Scherer, P. B., Salinas, G. D., & Brown, J. J. (2012). Assessment of physician practices in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 14(4), PCC.11m01312. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.11m01312

“I have two kids with ADD,” said an ADDitude reader. “One takes medicine and sees its value. The other has stopped. I worry for both and feel like I’m not sure what the best route is.”

Many parents find themselves in this position. The decision to start or stop medication involves not just you and the doctor, but also your teen, who is seeking increased independence and control in their life. You know that sticking to a consistent medication regimen can make your child’s life easier… but they might need to come to this realization on their own.

“They’re teens, and I have to trust that this part of life is for figuring out hard things,” the reader continued. “We are working together to build skills that will support their growth, regardless of whether they take medication. I’m also working really hard to let them know that even as an adult, I continue to try to improve my habits and figure out what works for me.”

If you have a teen with ADHD who takes medication, have they ever asked to stop taking it? Refused to take it? Or lied about taking it? How did you handle it? Read on to see how these readers broached the topic of medication with their teens.

[Sign Up: The Caregiver’s Guide to ADHD Treatment]

When Teens Refuse ADHD Medication

“My 15-year-old… has always opted not to take her medication on the weekends, and that’s a battle I choose not to engage in. When she stopped taking it on school days, I pointed out that there was no point in seeing a pediatrician if she didn’t follow the treatment plan. That strategy works. However, some mornings her ADHD is the barrier. I try to be available to subtly assess if my independent daughter needs help. If she hasn’t had breakfast, I offer to make it, and place the capsule beside it; if she refuses breakfast, I place the capsule in her hand.”

“We let her get away with [not taking medication] during the shortage. Incentives didn’t work because there was nothing she cared about, and she couldn’t keep her interest long enough to actually earn anything. We finally had to resort to threats of taking away the only thing she cared about: sports.”

“[My son] has said he doesn’t need it, specifically on the weekends. I don’t force it on him.”

“My child has refused to take medication for ADHD for the last two years. I don’t force her. I explain that it’s going to take a more concentrated effort to get things done. We also work with a therapist to consistently learn and implement coping techniques and focus strategies.”

[eBook: The Parents’ Guide to Raising Teens with ADHD (Part One)]

“I was the teen who wanted to stop medication. I felt so overwhelmed in high school by medication; I didn’t think I was the same person on and off my meds. My parents didn’t allow me to stop because we agreed that I would not put other supports in place (like an ADHD diet) to manage my symptoms. I’m glad we were able to have an open and honest conversation about it, and that I did not stop taking medication. I learned how to feel like myself both off and on medication, and I think it is now essential to managing my symptoms and being in control of myself.”

“My 13-year-old is on a variety of medications. Some help her focus, and one helps her sleep at night. She takes them willingly because she knows they help her. She has a check-in with her psychiatrist once a month to make sure they’re working. Every time there’s a medication change, we watch her carefully to make sure there are no side effects. Her psychiatrist is very careful with medications. ‘Go low and go slow’ is her motto.”

“I let [my teens] go off of [medication] for a bit to see how they would function without it… they went back on it after a few weeks.”

“I have a daughter who is 14 and has refused to take her medication for about a year and a half now. She says she doesn’t like the way it makes her feel, which is anxious. Unfortunately, I have tried multiple times unsuccessfully to convince her how much she needs it. Her ADHD symptoms have gotten worse and she doesn’t care about school or her grades. It is very frustrating. I have tried to convince her to try for a week or two so that her body adjusts, and the symptoms improve. I don’t have much advice, but maybe it will help someone to know they are not alone.”

Parenting Teens Who Refuse ADHD Medication: Next Steps

• Download: Questions to Get Your Child Talking
• Read: Make Your Teen the CEO of Her Treatment Plan
• Read: 10 Supplements and Vitamins for ADHD Symptom Control

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

The Caregiver’s Guide to ADHD Treatment is a joint effort from WebMD and ADDitude designed to guide individuals through the difficult, important decisions they face when treating their kids’ ADHD and comorbid conditions. This guided email course will cover the following topics:

DECISION 1: How should I approach my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 2: Is ADHD medication right for my child?
DECISION 3: How can I address side effects associated with my child’s ADHD medication?
DECISION 4: How can I integrate nutrition & supplements into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 5: How can I integrate exercise & mindfulness into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 6: What therapies should I integrate into my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 7: How should I adjust and optimize my child’s ADHD treatment plan over time?
DECISION 8: How can my child’s treatment plan safely address comorbid conditions?

NOTE: This resource is for personal use only.

A: Contraindications — some of them common comorbidities — and side effects may limit the use of stimulant medication in… | Keep reading on ADDitude »

ANXIETY: How should we treat comorbid ADHD and anxiety in my child?

A: It’s important to talk to your child’s doctor if you believe they may have ADHD, anxiety, or both. If left untreated, either condition can get worse, making it harder for your child at school, home, and… | Keep reading on WebMD »

DEPRESSION: How should we treat comorbid ADHD and depression in my child?

A: ADHD is usually treated with medicines known as stimulants. Antidepressants might also help some symptoms of ADHD and ADHD that’s combined with depression. Studies suggest… | Keep reading on WebMD »

ODD: How should we treat comorbid ADHD and ODD in my child?

A: If your child has been diagnosed with both ADHD and ODD, the doctor may recommend treatment as early as possible and… | Keep reading on WebMD »

OCD: How should we treat comorbid ADHD and OCD in my child?

A: Both conditions respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy and medications. If your child has ADHD and OCD, the doctor may combine the treatments… | Keep reading on WebMD »

AUTISM: How should we treat ADHD in my autistic child?

A: Work with your child’s care team to find a treatment plan that’s right for your little one. It might include both behavior therapy for autism and medication for ADHD… | Keep reading on WebMD »

FIRST-PERSON: “The Nightmare of ‘Back to Baseline’”

“For those who may not know, ‘baseline’ is the process of weaning a child from any medication he may be taking. This is usually suggested before a major med change or to reassess how your child is doing. Our boy has been taking the same prescriptions for ADHD and ODD for nearly a year, and the doctors thought it might be time for a change.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

FREE DOWNLOAD: 9 Conditions Often Linked to ADHD

An overwhelming majority of individuals with ADHD are diagnosed with at least one other psychiatric and/or developmental disorder. | Download now on ADDitude »

SYMPTOM TEST: The ADDitude Symptom Checker

Are all of your symptoms explained by ADHD, or could you have a comorbid condition? | Take the symptom checker »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Treatment in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How should I approach my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 2: Is ADHD medication right for my child?
DECISION 3: How can I address side effects associated with my child’s ADHD medication?
DECISION 4: How can I integrate nutrition & supplements into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 5: How can I integrate exercise & mindfulness into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 6: What therapies should I integrate into my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 7: How should I adjust and optimize my child’s ADHD treatment plan over time?
> DECISION 8: How can my child’s treatment plan safely address comorbid conditions?

A: Before starting a new treatment, you and your child’s teacher can make a checklist of their symptoms as a baseline. After your child is on the medication… | Keep reading on WebMD »

DOSING: How do we find an optimal dose of ADHD medication?

A: As with the drug itself, doctors can’t predict with certainty which dose will be most effective. Your doctor will start your child with a low dose and move it up as needed… | Keep reading on WebMD »

ADJUSTING MEDS: What should I do if my child’s ADHD medication is not working?

A: Stimulant drugs start to work quickly. If a medicine is going to work, you should see some improvement within 30 to 90 minutes after your child takes it. That also means that if a medicine isn’t helping your child, you’ll notice… | Keep reading on WebMD »

REBOUND: How can I address my child’s irritability as the ADHD med wears off?

A: When medication leaves the body too quickly, ADHD symptoms can return suddenly and intensely. These flare-ups tend to… | Keep reading on WebMD »

DRUG HOLIDAYS: Should my child take breaks from ADHD medication?

A: You may have heard that there are benefits of taking breaks from ADHD medication. It may be a good idea for some kids, but talk with the doctor about what’s right for your child… | Keep reading on WebMD »

CESSATION: How will I know if my child is ready to stop taking ADHD medication?

A: Some kids need to stay on ADHD meds until adulthood. Others outgrow their symptoms or learn to compensate for them as their brain matures. At some point… | Keep reading on WebMD »

FIRST-PERSON: “A 30-Day Supply of Parental Agony”

“As the father of three kids with ADHD, prescription management is basically my part-time job. The pharmacy closes at 8pm, so it’s typically around 8:05pm when someone says, ‘Dad, I’m out of medicine.’ And because stimulants are controlled substances, only the pediatrician can call in a refill.” | Keep reading on ADDitude »

RELATED RESOURCES

FREE DOWNLOAD: Weekly Monitoring Report

Use this weekly log with your child’s teacher to track progress toward academic and behavior goals, and the effectiveness of your ADHD treatment. | Download now on ADDitude »

EXPERT WEBINAR: How to Optimize ADHD Medication

Expert webinar with William Dodson, M.D., LF-APA. | Listen now on ADDitude »

8-Part Guide to ADHD Treatment in Children, from WebMD x ADDitude:

DECISION 1: How should I approach my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 2: Is ADHD medication right for my child?
DECISION 3: How can I address side effects associated with my child’s ADHD medication?
DECISION 4: How can I integrate nutrition & supplements into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 5: How can I integrate exercise & mindfulness into my child’s ADHD treatment?
DECISION 6: What therapies should I integrate into my child’s ADHD treatment plan?
> DECISION 7: How should I adjust and optimize my child’s ADHD treatment plan over time?
DECISION 8: How can my child’s treatment plan safely address comorbid conditions?