ADHD in the News 2017-05-18
New ADHD Pharmacologic Treatments Needed But Few Are On the Way
Behavior therapy can benefit most patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the vast majority of patients with the condition will still need pharmacotherapy to manage their symptoms and prevent the disorder from interfering with their lives. Yet little progress has been made in identifying effective agents for patients who don't respond to the handful of existing medications.
Study Finds Minority Children Prescribed ADHD Medication More Likely Than Whites to Discontinue Treatment
A study in the June 2017 Pediatrics found significant racial differences in how often youth diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed medication continue receiving treatment for the condition. For the study, ...researchers examined Medicaid claims data from nine states and found much higher rates of medication discontinuation and treatment disengagement among minority youth compared to whites among children who received ADHD prescriptions.
Report: Students with Learning and Attention Issues Three Times More Likely to Drop Out
One in five children have learning and attention issues, or brain-based challenges in reading, writing, math, organization, focus, listening comprehension, social skills, motor skills or a combination of these, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). In a new report, the NCLD examines why students facing these issues are three times more likely to drop out of school.
Athletes with ADHD twice as likely to compete in team sports, study finds
A new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds athletes with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to compete in team contact sports than individual sports, which could increase their risk of injury. The study, presented today at the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, analyzed more than 850 athletes who competed in a variety of sports over a five-year period at The Ohio State University.
Rat Study Links Ritalin Misuse to Brain Changes Affecting Sleep, Risk-Taking
New research using rats could mean use of the stimulant drug Ritalin by people without an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may lead to changes in brain chemistry associated with risk-taking behavior, sleep disruption, and other undesirable effects.
Should You Take ADHD Medications When You’re Pregnant?
Sometimes a pregnant woman will also decide to stop taking her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications – or any other medications she may require – during or before pregnancy, assuming that too is a healthy choice. However, Dr. Alison G. Cahill, chief of the division of maternal fetal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, says it’s a “common misconception among expectant moms that they can’t be on any medications during pregnancy.”
5 Ways to Support a Spouse with ADHD and Work as a Team
While ADHD can be a real challenge for both you and your spouse, there are many things you can do to support them and work as a team. Below, [ADHD coaches] Matlen and Kinzer shared their valuable suggestions.