New findings of a randomized controlled trial indicate that play-based intervention designed to improve the social play skills is effective among children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Investigators affiliated with The University of Sydney, the Curtin University in Perth, and Australian Catholic University published their findings in the journal PLoS One.

New research emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy, after finding children with conduct disorder in early life may be more likely to develop symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if their mother consumes a high-fat, high-sugar diet while expecting.

A common over-the-counter pain medication has been associated with increased risk of developing behavioral issues for children who were exposed to the drug in utero, according to a study published today in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics…Dr. Max Wiznitzer, a pediatric neurologist at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, said the study provides valuable insight but…

For which patients over 50 who complain of cognitive difficulty should ADHD be considered in the differential? What are the treatment options for older adults with this diagnosis? David Goodman, MD, FAPA addresses both questions in this brief podcast.

If your child has a learning disorder, mental health diagnoses, or other qualified disability, he or she is entitled to fair treatment at school. Unfortunately, getting your child the services he or she deserves is often a long and drawn-out battle that demands zealous advocacy and a willingness to educate yourself about your child’s rights…here…

One of the greatest disservices to children and adults with mental health issues is marginalizing those who need medication…ADHD is a biological, neurological, and genetic disorder. Michael Phelps has not “beat” his ADHD diagnosis…he and his mother, Debbie Phelps (who provided a lot of structure to Michael), would be the first people to tell you…

Diagnosing an adult with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) requires at least five symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity, per the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)…What if an adult has indications of ADHD, but didn’t as a child? Could adult and childhood ADHD be two distinct conditions?

Popping an ADHD pill, such as Adderall, to enhance your studying and boost grades might sound tempting. But you could be risking rare and serious side effects like heart attack, stroke, and possibly even death, for little, if any benefit.

“In line with extensive preclinical data, we provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that methylphenidate treatment during a specific period of maturation alters the cerebral blood flow response, likely reflecting increased dopamine neurotransmission due to neurochemical imprinting by methylphenidate,” the authors, led by Liesbeth Reneman, MD, PhD, Brain Imaging Center at the University of…

Autism shares genetic roots with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)…The first comparison of brain architecture across these conditions has found that all are associated with disruptions in the structure of the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that links the brain’s left and right hemispheres. The…

Findings based upon publicly-insured children from 2001 to 2010. More Medicaid-covered children are receiving treatments that conform to practice standards for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including the use of combined medication and psychotherapy, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.

The list of symptoms for kids who have ADHD reads like a recipe for problems in school…Increasing academic demands have only made it harder for kids with ADHD, argues Dr. Jeffrey Brosco, professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. With kids spending more time preparing for standardized tests and…