Amphetamines Stand Out in ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Amphetamines | Research Update

Review of: Cortese S et al, Lancet 208;5:727–738 Type of study: Meta-analysis With so many medications available to treat ADHD, wouldn’t it be nice to know if some are better than others? In this comprehensive meta-analysis, researchers sought to compare the relative efficacy and tolerability of both stimulant (methylphenidate and am

How Helpful Is Computerized Testing for ADHD?

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Research Update | Technology

Review of: Hollis C et al, J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2018;59(12):1298–1308 With busy clinic schedules and the ever-burgeoning load of documentation, computerized diagnostic aids are in more demand than ever. For ADHD, the gold standard is still a clinical assessment with information from parents and teachers, but those reports are difficult to obt

Would Treating Kids With ADHD Help Their Mothers?

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Research Update | Working With Families

Review of: Gokcen C et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharm 2018;28(5):350–353 Parenting a child with ADHD can be challenging. Parents often report feeling stressed, burned out, or depressed while caring for their children with ADHD. When ADHD medications lead to significant improvements in a child’s behavior, can that alleviate symptoms in parents? A

New Stimulants: From Remixed Amphetamines to Bedtime Ritalin

Topics: ADHD | Psychopharmacology Tips

You may have noticed that a confusing array of new stimulants has been approved in the last few years. Since 2012, there have been five new amphetamines and two new methylphenidates. What are these preparations? Are any of them worth prescribing to your patients? To prepare you for the promotional downpour that’s likely to accompany all this repackagi

Note From the Editor-in-Chief

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry

In this issue we tackle a range of challenges, including differentiating ADHD from bipolar disorder, understanding suicide risk in college students, managing assertions about the safety of weed, and assessing and treating violent behavior in our patients. How do we think about the future of kids with ADHD? Dr. Mark Katz offers a hopeful approach. We als

Evaluating and Treating Co-Occurring ADHD and Bipolar Disorder

Topics: ADHD | Bipolar Disorder | Child Psychiatry

Early into the evaluation of a 10-year-old boy, you note the following symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, sleep problems, racing thoughts, and moodiness. The boy’s parents came to your office convinced that their son has ADHD, but thinking through the case, you recognize that the same symptoms could signal bipolar disorder (BD). You ha

Becoming Successful Despite ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Psychotherapy | Registered Articles

CCPR: Dr. Katz, how did you get interested in this topic? Dr. Katz: There’s a body of research exploring the lives of those who overcame a range of adverse childhood experiences, including learning-related challenges. I’ve always been interested in this work. Parents at our center are often surprised to learn that successful adults in every prof

Jornay PM Nighttime Stimulant for Next-Morning Effect

Topics: ADHD | News of Note | Sleep Disorders

Prescribing bedtime stimulants sounds like a recipe for a bad night’s sleep. But the FDA recently approved Jornay PM, which is an extended release (ER) formulation of methylphenidate that is, in fact, dosed at night. Approved for kids age 6 and older, Jornay PM has an extremely delayed onset of effect of 10 hours. This means kids can take it at aro

Amphetamine Extended Release Oral Suspension for ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Research Update

Review of: Childress AC et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2017;28(5):306–313 In 2015, the FDA approved Dyanavel XR (amphetamine extended release oral suspension), which was the first long-acting liquid version of amphetamine on the market. To provide some context, Quillivant XR, a long-action liquid methylphenidate formulation, was approved in

Mindfulness Therapy for Adult ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Research Update

Review of: Janssen L et al, Psychological Medicine 2018;28:1–11 Medications are the first-line treatment for adult ADHD, and the efficacy of psychosocial therapies is less well-defined. Mindfulness-based therapy showed promise for adult ADHD in a recent meta-analysis, but there were flaws and significant differences between the included studies (Ja

Adolescents With ADHD and Substance Use Disorders: A Primer

Topics: Addiction | ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Registered Articles | Substance Abuse

You are evaluating a 16-year-old boy referred for mandated substance use treatment by his high school, where he was found drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis with a friend in the restroom. As you gather his history, he says, “One doctor told me I have ADHD. That’s why I smoke pot—it helps me focus. But I think I’d do better with some Adderall.

Differentiating ADHD From Anxiety: Tips for Clinicians

Topics: ADHD | Anxiety | Child Psychiatry | Practice Tools and Tips

When parents bring in their kids for concentration, attention, and learning issues, it’s common to assume a provisional diagnosis of ADHD. In many children, however, anxiety can be the real cause of these problems. Studies have long shown that about two-thirds of children and adolescents who present for ADHD evaluation have comorbid conditions, inc

Does Methylphenidate Use in Children and Young Adults Increase Risk of Suicide?

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Research Updates

Review Of: Man KKC et al, JAMA Psychiatry 2017;74(10):1048–1055 Some studies have indicated that patients with ADHD may be at an increased risk of suicide. While these studies have shown associations between methylphenidate use and suicide, it is not clear whether the stimulant actually causes suicidality or whether patients taking stimulants are s

An Integrative Approach to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Psychotherapy

Integrative approaches to treating ADHD have become increasingly sought after by parents, especially those who are concerned about the side effects and potential overuse of psychostimulant medication. Surveys report that over 60% of child psychiatry patients are employing integrative tools on their own such as vitamins, specific diets, and herbal remedi

Official 2017 Carlat ADHD Pediatric Stimulant Comparison Table

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry

Our official 2017 Carlat ADHD Stimulant Comparison table, an easy-to- use reference that you’ll find handy. Table: Official 2017 Carlat ADHD Pediatric Stimulant Comparison Table (Click here to view as full-sized PDF.)

Choosing Medications for ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry

CCPR: Can you tell us about your current practice? Dr. Buchanan: I am responsible for pediatric ER and floor consults, I supervise the school crisis walk-in clinic, and I am responsible for high-risk intakes in the clinic.   CCPR: We hear a lot about overdiagnosis of ADHD. What are your thoughts? Dr. Buchanan: We all hear that the prob

Is Modafinil an Effective Alternative for the Treatment of ADHD?

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

Review of: Wang SM et al, J Psychiatr Res 2017;84:292–300. Modafinil (Provigil) is FDA-approved for narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder, but not for ADHD. Given that it has some of the same stimulating properties of psychostimulants, it should theoretically be effective. Wang and colleagues identified five randomized

Take The CME Post-Test for ADHD in Children and Adolescents, CCPR, September/October 2017

Topics: ADHD | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only (October 31, 2018). By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME credits. Click here to take your CME test. Note: All of the CME tests are available in the “My Account” section of the site when you are logge

Defining a Role for Nutrition in Managing Children With ADHD

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

Review of: Lange KW et al, Curr Psychiatry Rep 2017;19(2):8. Parents of kids with ADHD often ask about the role of diet and nutrition in their child’s symptoms, and research has uncovered some interesting possibilities. For example, there is some evidence that concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs, which includes omega-

Diagnosing and Treating PANDAS/PANS: A View From the Clinic

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | OCD

CCPR: Dr. Greenberg, thanks for returning to CCPR. You gave great information in our March issue on Tourette’s disorder, and we know you also treat kids with PANDAS/PANS. How many kids have you seen with PANDAS/PANS? Dr. Greenberg: I devote one day a week to patients with PANDAS/PANS, and I see one to two new cases a week. I’ve probably seen 50�