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Assessing the Efficacy of Treatments for ADHD

Overview of Methodological Issues

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Abstract

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and impairing psychiatric condition that affects significant numbers of children, adolescents and adults. Clinicians in a variety of practice settings (hospital, outpatient, residential, research) strive to diagnose, treat and monitor ADHD in an efficient and evidence-based manner. Tools that facilitate the gathering and interpretation of information from a variety of sources can effectively augment a diagnostic assessment, and can also be useful for longitudinal monitoring. Multiple assessment tools are available, with varying degrees of psychometric validity, clinical utility and overall feasibility (time and cost).

This review provides an overview of several available ADHD rating scales and continuous performance tests, and offers a discussion of potential strengths and weaknesses of the instruments. While these tools do not in and of themselves make a diagnosis of ADHD, they can certainly assist in the diagnostic assessment, be crucial in assessing the efficacy of medications in clinical trials, and be a useful adjunct in the clinical management of ADHD.

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  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this manuscript. Drs Madaan, Daughton, Lubberstedt and Mattai, and Ms Vaughan, have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review. Dr Kratochvil has consulted with, received grants from and/or given talks for Eli Lilly and Company, Shire, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Cephalon, McNeil, Abbott and Organon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Creighton University/University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    Vishal Madaan, Joan Daughton, Brian Lubberstedt & Andy Mattai

  2. Department of Psychiatry, 985581 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, 68198-5581, USA

    Brigette S. Vaughan &  Christopher J. Kratochvil

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  1. Vishal Madaan
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  2. Joan Daughton
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Kratochvil.

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Madaan, V., Daughton, J., Lubberstedt, B. et al. Assessing the Efficacy of Treatments for ADHD. CNS Drugs 22, 275–290 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200822040-00002

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