New ADHD Clinical Practice Guidelines

Much is unchanged from prior guidelines, but there is a new emphasis on comorbid conditions and practice implementation.

Sponsoring Organization: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Background

AAP guidelines for managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children 4 to 18 years of age, previously revised in 2011, have now been updated based on a review of the literature from 2011 to 2016. This update documents that around 7% to 15% of children have ADHD and that the disorder is twice as common in boys than in girls. It also shows that the most common comorbid conditions are language and learning disorders, that boys are more likely than girls to have externalizing behaviors (aggression, disruptive behavior), and that girls more likely than boys to have internalizing symptoms (anxiety and depression).

Key Recommendations

Providers should initi…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health