Treatment Options for ADHD in Children and Teens: A Review of Research for Parents and Caregivers

A new set of clinician and patient resources from AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program evaluates the latest research on the benefits and side effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments for children and adolescents. Among preschool children with disruptive behavior disorder (which includes ADHD), the research review found that parental behavior training reduces ADHD symptoms. The review also found that medications are thought to generally be safe and effective for improving school-age children’s behavior, but long-term side effects are unknown. The new resources include a patient summary and clinician summary.