What is the best way to treat ADHD?

Many people must know what ADHD is. If ADHD is not treated in time, it may cause some sequelae, so everyone should be vigilant. In the treatment of ADHD, the therapeutic effect is generally achieved through medication or psychological counseling.

Treatment strategy

Improve the level of early identification and diagnosis and treatment of this disease, provide patients with diagnosis and treatment as early as possible, and reduce the harm of the disease to themselves, their families and society.

Drug treatment

Medications can improve patients' attention deficits, reduce activity levels, improve academic performance to a certain extent, and improve relationships with family members. 1. The first-line treatment drugs for central nervous system stimulants are currently mainly methylphenidate and its controlled-release tablets in China. Central nervous system stimulants are limited to patients over 6 years of age. Because of its central nervous system stimulant effect, it should not be used at night. Side effects of the drug include decreased appetite, insomnia, headache, irritability and anger, and it is not yet certain whether it affects growth and development. Central nervous system stimulants may induce or aggravate tic symptoms in patients and are not recommended for patients with comorbid tic disorders. The issue of substance abuse must also be considered when using CNS stimulants long-term. 2. The representative drug of selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, atomoxetine, has been listed as the first-line treatment for ADHD. Features: Administered once a day, the therapeutic effect can last for 24 hours; long-term use, non-addictive; the drug takes a long time to take effect, and generally the effect is not seen until 1 to 2 weeks after the start of medication. The most common adverse reaction is gastrointestinal reaction, which requires taking the medicine after meals.

Other treatments

There are two main types of psychotherapy: behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The patient has poor relationships with peers, uses aggressive language and behavior toward others, and has poor self-control. Behavioral therapy utilizes the principle of operant conditioning to promptly provide positive or negative reinforcement to the patient's behavior, enabling the patient to learn appropriate social skills and replace inappropriate behavior patterns with new and effective behaviors. Cognitive behavioral therapy mainly addresses patients' impulsive problems, allowing patients to learn how to solve problems, identify whether their behavior is appropriate, and choose appropriate behavior.

Prognosis

Some children still have symptoms after they grow up, which significantly affects their academic performance, physical and mental health, as well as their family life and social abilities after they grow up.