Gabriel Kaplan, MD

Recent data show that widespread discrepancy exists between clinical guidelines and practice patterns for ADHD, dementia, and bipolar disorders.

Here: practical tips on how to proceed with the treatment recommendation process with families who prefer therapy alone.

What forces influence your decision to treat ADHD? Case vignettes and a back-to-basics approach may bring clarity to the diagnostic and therapeutic clinical processes that surround the decision.

Research over the past 2 decades has demonstrated that ADHD occurs frequently and causes considerable suffering in patients and their families. ADHD begins in early childhood and persists through adolescence and into adulthood in 70% of those affected.

This discussion focuses on approaches to improve medication adherence, particularly in reference to helping adolescents remain on recommended psychopharmacological regimens when transitioning from acute to long-term maintenance.