New York, March 25 (IANS) – A recent review of studies conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) has found that a combination of medication and psychosocial treatment can greatly benefit children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, analyzed over 23,000 publications on ADHD, highlighting the most effective methods for diagnosis and treatment.
According to Professor Susanne Hempel from USC’s Keck School of Medicine, the review focused on including only the most robust studies to provide evidence-based information for parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. The research identified gaps in understanding how to monitor the progression of ADHD over time.
The study examined various tools for diagnosing ADHD, including parent and teacher rating scales, neuropsychological tests, EEG approaches, and imaging. It also evaluated different medications such as stimulants and non-stimulants, as well as psychosocial interventions like behavior modification.
Lead author Bradley Peterson from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles noted that medications showed the strongest evidence for improving ADHD symptoms and related behaviors. The researchers also assessed non-drug treatments like cognitive training, neurofeedback, exercise, nutrition, and parent and school support.
Overall, the findings suggest that children with ADHD can experience improvement with the right combination of treatments. The team plans to use this information to update the American Academy of Pediatrics’s clinical practice guidelines for ADHD, aiming to provide better care for affected children.
The comprehensive review aims to provide healthcare professionals and caregivers with evidence-based strategies to effectively manage ADHD in children. By highlighting the most effective treatments and addressing gaps in research, the study contributes valuable insights to the field of pediatric mental health.
