Surviving and Thriving with ADHD: Part 2 – Nurse Practitioner

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood, affecting as many as 5-10% of children and adolescents and 2.5- 5% of adults. It is a serious public health concern because of its high prevalence, long-term course, and functional impairment at home, school and work. ADHD can be effectively managed with a variety of treatment options, including parent training, school interventions, medications, and behavioral strategies. Currently, there is debate about the overdiagnosis of ADHD leading to inappropriate treatment and stigmatization, or missed diagnoses of conditions with similar symptoms as ADHD (eg, anxiety, speech or language delay, developmental disorder). This issue is the second of a 2-part review of ADHD. Part 1 focuses on current stimulant and nonstimulant treatments for ADHD. Part 2 summarizes the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of ADHD across all age groups, recommended nondrug and behavioral interventions for managing ADHD, clinically significant drug interactions with ADHD medications, and coexisting conditions that are often present in patients with ADHD.