AAP Updates ADHD Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its 2011 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents.

The guidelines were first published in 2000-2001 and updated and revised in 2011. Since then, the authors noted, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been revised to the fifth edition, and new research has been published. However, this new evidence does not support any major changes to the previous recommendations. Instead, the 2019 edition of the guidelines now include a key action statement on the importance of identifying and treating comorbid conditions in children and adolescents with ADHD, including anxiety, depression oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorders, substance use, learning and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, tics, sleep apnea, and other emotional, behavioral, developmental, and physical conditions.

Further, 2 new accompanying documents on the process of care algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and systemic barriers to the care of children with ADHD have been made available in the guidelines’ Supplemental Information section.

“Evidence is clear with regard to the legitimacy of the diagnosis of ADHD and the appropriate diagnostic criteria and procedures required to establish a diagnosis, identify comorbid conditions, and effectively treat with both psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions. The steps required to sustain appropriate treatments and achieve successful long-term outcomes remain challenging, however,” the authors concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Wolraich ML, Hagan JF, Allan C, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adolescents [published online September 30, 2019]. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-2528.