Decision 6: What dietary, behavioral, or other complementary interventions should I recommend to patients with ADHD?
Treating a patient with ADHD is a complex and nuanced process. This 7-part guide highlights key considerations and decisions clinicians face along the way.
BEYOND MEDICATION: Which nonpharmacologic treatments are proven to benefit pediatric patients with ADHD?
A: Effective behavioral treatments for ADHD do not change ADHD symptoms, but they do help children learn how to manage them… | Keep reading on MDedge »
LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS: How can patients optimize nutrition, sleep, exercise, and other lifestyle factors to improve ADHD symptoms?
A: Regardless of whether a child’s treatment includes medication, maximizing exercise, sleep, and nutrition can effectively transform them into natural remedies for ADHD, and arguably establish the foundation… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
EXERCISE: How much and what type of physical activity will benefit a patient with ADHD, according to research?
A: With regular physical activity, we can raise the baseline levels of dopamine and norepinephrine by spurring the growth of new receptors in certain brain areas… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
SUPPLEMENTS: What supplements and/or vitamins can aid with ADHD symptom control?
A: Usually given in the form of fish oil, omega-3s are probably the best-researched supplement for ADHD. Numerous studies… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
PARENT TRAINING: How can Collaborative & Proactive Solutions parent training benefit an ADHD treatment plan, according to research?
A: CPS has been shown in randomized trials with both parent groups and in home counseling to be as effective as Parent Training in reducing oppositional behavior and reducing… | Keep reading on MDedge »
NEUROFEEDBACK: Is neurofeedback an effective ADHD treatment, according to research?
A: A body of research suggests that neurofeedback is a promising therapy for ADHD, but it should be considered a complement to medication and/or behavior therapy rather than… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES: Which accommodations and environmental changes have the greatest positive effect on children with ADHD?
A: Encourage parents and teachers to use clear and concise instructions with supplementary visual tools. When providing instructions in classrooms, teachers should look directly at the student… | Keep reading on MDedge »
RELATED RESOURCES
The Exercise Rx for ADHD: How Movement Improves Attention, Working Memory, and Executive Functions
Expert Webinar with John Ratey, M.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »
The Whole-Person Treatment Approach to ADHD
Expert Webinar with Lidia Zylowska, M.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »
How CBT and ADHD Coaching Help Adults Manage Their Symptoms Naturally
Expert Webinar with J. Russell Ramsay, Ph.D., and David Giwerc | Listen now on ADDitude »
New Supplement Strategies: Using Trace Minerals and Plant Extracts to Treat ADHD in Children and Adults
Expert Webinar with James M. Greenblatt, M.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »
7-Week Guide to Treating ADHD, from Medscape x MDedge x ADDitude:
DECISION 1: What should I consider to develop a comprehensive ADHD treatment plan?
DECISION 2: What medications and other approaches should I turn to as first-line treatments for ADHD?
DECISION 3: How can I decide which ADHD medication to prescribe first?
DECISION 4: What challenges and side effects should I anticipate from ADHD medications, and how should I address them?
DECISION 5: How can I improve treatment outcomes for patients with ADHD and comorbid diagnoses?
>DECISION 6:What dietary, behavioral, or other complementary interventions should I recommend to patients with ADHD?
DECISION 7: How should I follow up with patients with ADHD, and what should we discuss during these checkups?
