SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

* Stimulant medication has been shown to provide significant benefits to the majority of children with ADHD. These benefits include reducing core ADHD symptoms, enhancing academic performance, reducing disruptive and aggressive behavior, and improving relationships with peers and family members.

* The improvements resulting from stimulant medication are based primarily on the results of short term studies and more data on the long term effectiveness of this form of treatment is required.

* Even though a child may benefit from stimulant medications, there will often be remaining academic and/or behavioral difficulties that need to be addressed by other forms of intervention.

* Most children do not experience any prolonged adverse side-effects from taking stimulant medication when it is administered properly. It is very important, however, for parents to discuss their questions and concerns with their physician and pharmacist.

* Not all children benefit from stimulants, and it is important to use an objective procedure to determine medication effectiveness.

* A child’s response to medication can change over time, as can the child's need for medication. Re-evaluating these issues on a periodic basis is important.

* Tricyclic antidepressants have also been shown to be helpful in treating ADHD symptoms, and may be helpful if stimulant medications are not successful, if stimulant medications produce unfavorable side effects, or if the child has concurrent symptoms of anxiety or depression. Newer antidepressants like Prozac and Wellbutrin may also be helpful, although less work documenting their effectiveness in treating ADHD has been conducted.

* Dietary changes and natural remedies currently lack scientific evidence of effectiveness in treating ADHD.

That's all for this month. I hope this information was useful to you in thinking about medication issues with your child. I want to thank Brandi again for giving me the opportunity to communicate with you all.

David Rabiner, PhD
Licensed Psychologist

Dr. David Rabiner Ph.D

Dr. Dave Rabiner received his Ph.D in clinical psychology from Duke University in 1987 where he also completed a one-year internship in child psychology at Duke University Medical Center. From 1987-1998, he was a professor in the psychology department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During this time, he maintained a part-time private practice where he worked primarily with children diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). In addition to this direct clinical work, he has consulted with numerous pediatricians and family physicians in North Carolina to assist them in evaluating and treating children with ADHD.

Dr. Rabiner has also published a number of papers on children's social development in peer-reviewed journals and presented his work at professional conferences. He's also served as a consultant on two federally funded grants to study ADHD.

Currently, Dr. Rabiner is teaching and conducting research on ADHD at Duke University in Durham, NC.

Read also Dr. Rabiner's: Guidelines for determining which add medication is best for your child and its level of effectiveness

next: Medication Guidelines for Children with ADHD