ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents

ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents: ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents Research has helped to establish effective diagnosis and treatment practices for child and adolescent mental health disorders, but gaps remain in patient-centered studies that explore “what is the best treatment for whom” and address limited access to care. In a Grand Rounds webinar presentation hosted by AHRQ’s Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program on May 22, the researchers behind three recent systematic reviews discussed their findings on the topic of child and adolescent mental health, and additional discussants offered insights. “There are few head-to-head comparisons of treatments that are of major interest,” said Bradley Peterson, M.D., copresenter of the report ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents. “We need studies for parents and kids looking for the right treatment for them.” The review found several promising diagnostic tools for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but the strength of evidence was generally low. Both medications and psychosocial interventions improved core symptoms, but evidence was lacking on which interventions work best for which children. In the review Diagnosis and Management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in Children, researchers identified the Child Behavior Checklist–Obsessive Compulsive Scale as an effective diagnostic tool, but its cost may pose access barriers in some primary care settings. The review supported exposure and response prevention (ERP) as the first-line treatment for pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder. Telehealth delivery of ERP also proved effective, offering promise for broader access. The report Management of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Youth found dialectical behavior therapy to be the only treatment for suicidal ideation with sufficient strength of evidence. Still, the studies in the review were limited by several factors. “For future research, there is a need for large, well-designed randomized controlled trials with long followup periods,” said presenter Leslie Sim, Ph.D. Diagnosis and Management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in Children https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/research?_gl=1*1adk37j*_ga*ODM2NTUxMjk2LjE3MzQ3MDM5NTY.*_ga_1NPT56LE7J*czE3NDgwMjQ5MDEkbzI5MCRnMSR0MTc0ODAyNDk0NSRqMCRsMCRoMA.. Management of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Youth: A Systematic Review https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/suicidal-thoughts-youth/research