Evidenced based therapy of children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)

The article reviews the empirical research on the efficacy of pharmacological and psychological treatment of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). The importance of evidence based treatment is stressed. Then the results of the internationally most important treatment study in this field, the US Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA-Study) are summarized. The study shows the efficacy of both pharmacological therapy (mainly stimulant treatment) and behaviour therapy. The combination of both interventions was not clearly superior to drug treatment plus counselling (medical management). However, Reanalyses show better effects of combined treatment. In the German speaking countries the Cologne Multimodal Interventions Study (COMIS) was conducted. Some main results of this study are summarised. Evidence based conclusions, regarding the efficacy of different psychological and pharmacological interventions based on meta analyses, review articles and empirical studies are summarised.