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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Clinical Pathway, Primary Care – Cohort

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Clinical Pathway — Primary Care

Cohort

This pathway guides the care of children ≥ 3 yrs old who present to their primary care physician with signs and symptoms of ADHD. Diagnosis should be approached with caution in younger children; it may be appropriate to diagnose 3-year-old children when symptoms and impairment are severe.

Common signs include consistent:

  • Hyperactivity
  • Impulsivity
  • Inattention, disorganization, distractibility
  • Poor school performance
  • Difficult behaviors at home or with peers

Core Principles of ADHD Care

Life Course Perspective-ADHD as a Chronic Condition
  • Focus on skills training that enables children/adolescents to become:
    • Independent
    • Competent
    • Interpersonally skilled
    • Able to make meaningful contributions to society as adults
  • Effective management includes monitoring and care throughout childhood and adolescence, with an emphasis on periods of transition
Combination Psychosocial and Pharmacological Treatment
Collaborative Care
  • Important to communicate between medical, behavioral, and educational team members, especially when:
    • Unexplained change in child status
    • Transition to a different school or level of schooling

Reference

Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Complex Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder  

 

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