ADHD in the News 2018-05-31
Beyond drugs, it’s not clear which ADHD treatments work
Researchers examined results from 54 studies of non-pharmaceutical ADHD treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, parent training, special diets, and supplements like omega-3 fatty acids. Overall, these studies were too small, brief or varied in how they measured results for researchers to draw firm conclusions about which approaches might actually work for kids with ADHD.
Are Children Overprescribed Psychiatric Medication?
No one wants their child to take medication they don’t need, especially if there’s a risk of side effects. But no research suggests the notion that psychiatric medications are overprescribed. In fact, according to a new study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, if there is an epidemic, it’s an epidemic of untreated and unmedicated psychiatric disorders.
Teachers of Students With Behavior Problems Want Help Finding Evidence-Based Tools
Teachers who say that have students with "behavior regulation challenges" are always on the lookout for programs they can use to support their students, and a new survey finds that teachers learn about those programs through their own research about a third of the time.
Analyzing Methylphenidate-Associated Adverse Events in Youth
A serious adverse event appeared to occur in approximately 1 in 100 children taking the stimulant methylphenidate, resulting in discontinuation of the treatment, according to the findings of a study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
How the brain maintains attentional focus during eye movements
A Montana State University neuroscientist who studies vision and visual attention has published research that reveals how the brain maintains attention on an object even while the eyes are making many rapid, voluntary movements. This research seeks to answer fundamental questions that could eventually lead to new treatments or therapies for some brain disorders.
Prescription Medication Use Decreasing in Children, Adolescents
Prescription medication use in children and adolescents decreased from 1999 to 2014, according to a study published in JAMA.
Kids’ mental health: Medication and holistic options can help, experts say
Amy first noticed that her son’s behavior was atypical when he was in pre-K. “He was melting down emotionally, hyperactive, bouncing from one thing to the next and just struggled with focus,” she said. She started to investigate holistic interventions for attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD.
Prescribing of ADHD stimulants has soared in B.C., agency warns
More than four per cent of elementary schoolchildren in B.C. are taking stimulant medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, the highest in two decades, UBC researchers have found.
Allergies or ADHD? Hay Fever Can Look Like Behavior or Learning Issues
Constant sneezing, incessantly itchy eyes, and a runny nose can make people of all ages downright miserable during allergy season...the symptoms of seasonal allergies can be confused with learning disabilities, or other conditions that can affect learning like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), said Dr. Maria Garcia-Lloret, a board-certified pediatric allergist at the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.