Communicating with Resistant Teens Regarding ADHD Medication: Implementing Shared Decision Making

Taking medicine can be quite unappealing, especially for teenagers. It is important, therefore, to understand this reluctance and engage with them accordingly instead of forcing them to take it.

One method is to ask them: “What are the things in life you wish were different?” Following this, their responses are echoed back to them: “You seem to be struggling with school. We have some solutions that might help. Let's discuss them because there is a range of treatment options, I'd like you to assist in choosing one.”

The necessity to consider Teen's medication coverage to minimize risky behaviors is emphasized as well.

It's emphasized that, teenagers are not being coerced to take any specific medicine, any progress will only be made if they deem the solutions beneficial enough to continue.

The crux of the matter lies in shared decision-making, where the patients are engaged and in charge. A good instance of this is Maggie Sibley, Ph.D., who in her STAND program provides adolescent participants a handout comprising of several personal values such as making friends, passing classes, earning money. She then queries the teen, “What’s important to you?” and encourages them to highlight their responses on the handout.

The question highlights what is important to the individual teen rather than their parents, clinicians, psychiatrists, teachers, or therapists. Whether it's friendship, creativity, socializing, better grades, excelling in sports, better self-esteem, or less stress, the core question remains: What’s important to you?

By posing this question, we shift from a paradigm of adults speaking at adolescents to beginning a genuine dialogue. It proves to be a highly effective method of engaging teens in their ADHD treatment.

The material for this article comes from a webinar hosted by The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) entitled “ADHD Treatment in the Primary Care Setting: The Teenage Years” with Greg Mattingly, M.D., which was aired on October 13, 2023.

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