Teenagers With ADHD Need Drugs, Psychotherapy & Special Treatments Different From Younger Children

Teenagers with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder should undergo treatments different from their younger children counterparts. In order to manage symptoms of ADHD, teens should be given a combination of drugs, psychotherapy and special treatments.

Combination Of Treatments

The study, which was published on May 10 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, stated that stimulants and alternative medications help lessen restlessness, forgetfulness and lack of motivation among teenagers with ADHD. Psychotherapy -- specifically ones that tackle behavior, organization and social skills -- also helps ADHD patients to have good performance at school.

Patients with the disorder have trouble paying attention, have impulsive behaviors and are hyperactive. ADHD is incurable, but it can be managed with the proper treatments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote.

Adherence To Taking Medication

Medication treatment for teenagers with ADHD isn't always successful. Dr. Eugenia Chan, the study's lead author, said adolescents refuse to take ADHD medication if they think it's ineffective and has side effects, Reuters reported. Teenagers also have higher chances of refusing medication if it makes them feel left out from their peers.

Around 12 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds in the U.S. have ADHD, but studies are more focused on the disease's effects on younger children. Some of the drugs that are prescribed to teens with ADHD are methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and amphetamine (Adderall), which are both stimulants. There are also alternative medications: atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Tenex, Intuniv).

It should be noted that majority of children with ADHD outgrow their disorders by the time they reach their teenage years. Experts need to monitor teenagers taking ADHD drugs carefully so they can determine if these adolescents should continue their medication treatment.

Teenagers who take Adderall and Ritalin for their ADHD are reportedly bullied more. The bullying isn't because the teens have ADHD or use drugs, but because they exhibit behaviors that adolescents without ADHD cannot tolerate, CBS News reported.

Program For Teens With ADHD & Other Disorders

In Columbia, South Carolina, a group called the Breakfast Club is catering to teenagers with ADHD, social anxiety, Asperger's and autism. Pre-teens and teenagers, alongside their parents, attend the group's meetings, which help them form relationship with their peers and navigate social situations, the State reported.

It's not just patients with ADHD who benefit from the Breakfast Club; parents also feel at ease with the group. For some parents, having a kid with ADHD mean social awkwardness and getting left out from social gatherings. By hanging out with people who are also parents to ADHD patients, they understand the challenges they live with every day and give advice to one another.