Adapted from CHADD (Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Combination therapy for ADHD involves using two or more types of treatment at the same time. The National Institute of Mental Health completed a landmark study of 579 children with ADHD, called the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD, that found combination therapy to be very effective. In fact, the researchers found that more of the children who received combination therapy had good to excellent results in the areas of oppositional symptoms, parenting, and academic outcomes.

In the study, every child received one of four possible treatments:

1. Medication alone
2. Behavioral treatment alone
3. A combination of both behavioral treatment and medication
4. Usual community care

The researchers found that the children who received individually tailored and closely monitored medication, either individually or in conjunction with behavioral management, had the greatest improvement in their ADHD symptoms.

Are there any guidelines that healthcare professionals must follow in treating ADHD?