ADHD in the News 2015-09-22

Nonpharmacological ADHD Treatments for Youths: How to Implement Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations

While the role of the physician is to guide, counsel, and advise, ultimately it is the family’s responsibility to decide which treatment should be pursued. The issues of whether medication is more effective than therapy or whether therapy is effective as a single modality are not addressed in this article; instead, the article aims to provide psychiatrists with practical tips on how to proceed with the treatment recommendation process with families who prefer therapy alone.



Meta-analysis shows significant association between ADHD, obesity in children, adults

Results from a meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Psychiatry indicated a significant association between obesity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children and adults



ADHD and Sleep

ADHD is linked with a variety of sleep problems. For example, one recent study found that children with ADHD had higher rates of daytime sleepiness than children without ADHD. Another study found that 50% of children with ADHD had signs of sleep disordered breathing, compared to only 22% of children without ADHD. Research also suggests that restless legs syndrome and periodic leg movement syndrome are also common in children with ADHD.



Mindful Parenting for ADHD

ADHD often creates unproductive patterns in parents' lives. When parents become overly stressed or overwhelmed, that affects their children. None of us are at our best when tapped out. And because ADHD itself increases family stress, it makes it harder for you to manage your child's ADHD, which then amplifies stress further. Incorporating mindfulness into your life can break this draining cycle.



‘Focus’ medications may harm more than they help

Prescription medications can be a danger to college students. A new study shows that medications used to treat ADD and ADHD do not improve the grades of people who take them without a prescription.



‘Babylab’ uses pioneering technology to help children suffering from ADHD

Children at risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are being enrolled in a pioneering “babylab” that aims to detect the condition years earlier than is currently possible. Research has begun at Birkbeck Babylab, University of London, involving 10-month-olds who have an elder sibling or family member already diagnosed with ADHD or autism.



Quiz: Do You Know the Signs, Symptoms, and Best Practices for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

An estimated 15%-20% of children with ADHD maintain the diagnosis into adulthood, and as many as 65% of these children have ADHD or residual symptoms as adults. Do you know the signs and symptoms to look for and best treatment practices? Test yourself with this quick quiz.



Is Outside the Box Learning Really Possible?

Bridges Academy was the first school program developed to explicitly recognize the strengths and complex nature of twice exceptional students. The school continues to set the standard for true teaching, meeting 2e students where they are, realizing the tremendous potential within them and providing a nurturing and understanding, yet challenging environment so that they can reach it.