Current Best Practices for Assessing and Treating Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Purpose This article provides updated information about the diagnosis and assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), multimodal interventions, strategies for combining behavioral and pharmacological interventions, and approaches for treating ADHD when it occurs with other conditions. Recent findings ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a well-documented genetic and neurobiological basis. The assessment of ADHD is grounded in criteria delineated in DSM-5 and includes an assessment of ADHD symptoms, symptom-related impairments, and comorbid conditions. Evidence-based interventions for ADHD include medication, in particular stimulants, and behavioral treatments, including behavioral parent training, classroom behavioral intervention, peer behavioral intervention, and organization skills training. Strategies for combining and sequencing behavioral and medication treatments need to take into account family preferences, problem severity, intervention accessibility, safety considerations, and family level of engagement and motivation. Disparities in ADHD service use as a function of socioeconomic and minority status point to the need for system reforms to improve access to care for all children and adolescents. Summary Evidence-based interventions for ADHD need to be more accessible for children and families, and strategies need to integrate the efforts of health providers, mental health professionals, and educators.