MP3 Audio File - ADHD Across the Ages: Focus on the Child neuroscienceCME - ADHD Across the Ages: Focus on the Child

Studies have shown that children with ADHD have higher rates of academic difficulties, social issues, and a number of comorbid psychiatric conditions compared to children without ADHD. These factors, and others, contribute to the high cost of care as well as diminished quality of life for children with ADHD. Applying the diagnostic criteria and unraveling the complexities of real-world patients can present a serious challenge to all clinicians. The symptom domains of ADHD—hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention—must often be diagnosed in the context of psychiatric comorbidities. The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) found that in a sample of 579 children, 31% had ADHD alone, 21% had oppositional symptoms, 12% had oppositional symptoms plus anxiety, 10% had anxiety symptoms, and 7% had comorbid conduct disorders. Careful clinical assessment of the child focusing on family history and longitudinal course of the disease is pivotal in order to develop appropriate treatment planning. A multimodal treatment approach that includes both pharmacologic and behavioral interventions is prudent. Ongoing monitoring at regular intervals utilizing structured data tools should be implemented to evaluate efficacy, tolerability, and compliance. In this evidence-based neuroscienceCME Live and On Demand activity, the expert faculty will explore the complex presentations of ADHD and provide strategies for the assessment, diagnosis, and individualized multimodal management of children and adolescents with ADHD.