Pharmacotherapy for Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Abstract
This article reviews information regarding the pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Basic information is presented regarding the most commonly used medications — central nervous system (CNS) stimulants — and dose levels, time courses, and dose equivalents across medications. The drugs' primary beneficial and adverse effects are reviewed and new, recently developed information is discussed. A cost-effective and efficient procedure for use in a regular classroom setting to evaluate drug response is described and a case example is presented. The utility of combined pharmacological, behavioral, and psychoeducational treatments is discussed. It is argued that school psychologists, working in conjunction with referred children's primary physicians, should play a major role in the initial, school-based determination of medication efficacy, as well as in implementation of ongoing behavioral treatment and pharmacological monitoring for children with ADHD.