ADHD is one of the best-researched disorders, according to the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association. This study is probably the most extensive study of ADHD to date. It concluded that ADHD has as much scientific validity and specificity as the best-known medical diseases, such as diabetes. They also found no evidence of over-prescribing or abuse of medication. The opposite was found; as few as 25% of grade school ADHD children are diagnosed and treated.
A second study was sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. The study took place over a seven year period. It included 6 sites, 579 children with ADHD, and a 14 month treatment program for each child. The children were randomly assigned to one of four groups:
- (A) Community treatment (70% got medication)
- (B) Intensive psychosocial treatment (no medication)
- (C) Study sponsored medication management (stimulants)
- (D) Both B and C
Results of the study clearly indicated that medication provides the greatest improvement of ADHD symptoms. A report in May of this year by the American Academy of Pediatricians asked its members to increase efforts to identify ADHD and related conditions and see that treatment is available. The findings of the studies are very important because they point to the fact that ADHD is primarily a medical disorder. The study data also helps prove to those people that don’t “believe” in ADHD that it does exist, and needs to be diagnosed and treated.
