Drugs, therapies combo works best for ADHD
A combination of drugs and non-medication therapies works best for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, a new survey has found.
The survey, which involved more than 900 parents who had kids with ADHD, was carried out by Consumer Reports, which asked them questions related to medications, non-medical therapies, strategies and physicians.
It was found that kids who had both drug and non-drug therapy showed better results. Non drug ADHD therapy included meeting a psychologist, keeping a consistent schedule and getting accommodation in school.
The question that has generated a worldwide debate relates to whether medication alone can cure ADHD and if not, what would be the best available treatment for this behavioral disorder? The survey paints a unique picture of parents’ view on this question.
While 84 per cent of the families that tried medication as a cure for ADHD, 67 percent believed that drugs alone had helped them. And more than half of those polled suggested that they had tried two or more drugs over the past three years.
However, only half of those polled believed that medications alone were the cause of the improvement in their children. Forty-four percent of the parents said they would rather go for drugs combined with therapies to cure ADHD.
The main objective of the Consumer Report survey was to figure out the medicine which worked best for children as it was one of most important concern of parents with ADHD kids. ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders. It can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).
Parents also reported that medication was more helpful in resolving academic performance and at-school behavior while for they thought therapies worked better to resolve issues related to behavior at home, social relationships and self-esteem.
Treatments can relieve many of the disorder's symptoms, but there is no cure. With treatment, most people with ADHD can be successful in school and lead productive lives. ADHD medications can also cause side-effects including weight loss, decreased appetite, sleep problems, irritability and an upset stomach.
Researchers are developing more effective treatments and interventions, and using new tools such as brain imaging, to better understand ADHD and to find more effective ways to treat and prevent it.