Guide for Clinicians Managing Comorbid Conditions in Treating Complex ADHD

The therapeutic approach for managing ADHD has recently undergone changes, with some cases finding success with environmental restructuring and behavioral therapy alone. Stimulants are the given choice of medication, but other options are available as well.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated guidelines on ADHD in 2019, and APSARD is currently working on creating the first guidelines for ADHD in adults which should be out in 2023.

While stimulants have the highest response rate in adult ADHD treatments, there are other medication options available. Modifying environments by focusing on sleep, exercise, and food changes can also have a positive impact on ADHD symptoms.

Developing a comprehensive ADHD treatment plan requires considering several decisions, such as determining which medications to use as first-line treatments, deciding which ADHD medication to prescribe first, anticipating the challenges and side effects of ADHD medications and how to address them, improving treatment outcomes for patients with ADHD and comorbid diagnoses, recommending dietary, behavioral, or other complementary interventions to patients with ADHD, and following up with patients and discussing their progress.

For more information, listen to expert webinars with Leslie F. Graham, MSW, Douglas Russell, M.D., Sheryl Morelli, M.D., and Sandy Newmark, M.D.