Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Aug;59(2):135-43.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.03.025. Epub 2016 May 18.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder During Adolescence in the Primary Care Setting: A Concise Review

Khyati Brahmbhatt  1 , Donald M Hilty  2 , Mina Hah  3 , Jaesu Han  4 , Kathy Angkustsiri  5 , Julie B Schweitzer  6
Affiliations
Review

Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder During Adolescence in the Primary Care Setting: A Concise Review

Khyati Brahmbhatt et al. J Adolesc Health. 2016 Aug.

Erratum in

  • Editor's Note: Daytrana.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Adolesc Health. 2018 Jul;63(1):126. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.05.008. J Adolesc Health. 2018. PMID: 30060852 No abstract available.

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder with a worldwide prevalence of about 5% in school-age children. This review is intended to assist primary care providers (PCPs) in diagnosing and treating ADHD in adolescents. PubMed, PsychInfo, and Science Citation Index databases were searched from March 1990 to 2015 with the keywords: ADHD, primary care/pediatrics, and children/adolescents. Abstracts addressing diagnosis and/or treatment with 105 citations were identified including supplementary treatment guidelines/books. Adolescent ADHD presents with significant disturbances in attention, academic performance, and family relationships with unique issues associated with this developmental period. Diagnostic challenges include the variable symptom presentation during adolescence, complex differential diagnosis, and limited training and time for PCPs to conduct thorough evaluations. The evidence base for treatments in adolescence in comparison to those in children or adults with ADHD is relatively weak. Providers should be cognizant of prevention, early identification, and treatment of conditions associated with ADHD that emerge during adolescence such as substance use disorders. Adolescent ADHD management for the PCP is complex, requires further research, and perhaps new primary care psychiatric models, to assist in determining the optimal care for patients at this critical period.

Keywords: ADHD; Adolescent; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Evaluation; Primary care; Treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
    1. Polanczyk G, de Lima MS, Horta BL, Biederman J, Rohde LA. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD: a systematic review and metaregression analysis. The American journal of psychiatry. 2007 Jun;164(6):942–948. - PubMed
    1. Visser SN, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH, et al. Trends in the parent-report of health care provider-diagnosed and medicated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: United States, 2003–2011. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;53(1):34–46. e32. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hinshaw S, Schleffer R. The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money and Today's Push for Performance. New York: Oxfor University Press; 2014.
    1. Culpepper L. Primary care treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 2006;67(Suppl 8):51–58. - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances