Consistent, Managed Treatment Works Best For Children With AD/HD

Main Category: ADHD
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 17 Nov 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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According to the recently released follow up study to the Multimodal Treatment Study on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA) in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), children and young people with AD/HD who received carefully managed medication alone or in combination with behavioral management and educational adaptations fared better than children who did not. However, study participants who no longer received intensive interventions and returned to standard community based care had lost the initial advantages after three years.

These findings show highly intensive treatment works best when begun early and consistently maintained. If high quality treatment is not continued, the initial benefits may be lost several years later. Lead researcher Peter Jensen, M.D., has emphasized the need for parents and healthcare providers to work closely together for the benefit of the child affected by AD/HD. Unfortunately, recent reports in the media have misrepresented the MTA's findings and drawn unsubstantiated conclusions.

CHADD, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, encourages each family to work with their healthcare providers for the most effective treatment for their families and children affected by AD/HD.

CHADD
http://www.chadd.org