Research Evidence for treating ADHD (original) (raw)
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European Journal of Pediatrics, 2005
An increasing number of parents turn to homeopathy for treatment of their hyperactive child. Two publications, a randomised, partially blinded trial and a clinical observation study, conclude that homeopathy has positive effects in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to obtain scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in ADHD. A total of 83 children aged 6-16 years, with ADHD diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria, were recruited. Prior to the randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover study, they were treated with individually prescribed homeopathic medications. 62 patients, who achieved an improvement of 50% in the Conners' Global Index (CGI), participated in the trial. Thirteen patients did not fulfill this eligibility criterion (CGI). The responders were split into two groups and received either verum for 6 weeks followed by placebo for 6 weeks (arm A), or vice-versa (arm B). At the beginning of the trial and after each crossover period, parents reported the CGI and patients underwent neuropsychological testing. The CGI rating was evaluated again at the end of each crossover period and twice in long-term follow-up. At entry to the crossover trial, cognitive performance such as visual global perception , impulsivity and divided attention, had improved significantly under open label treatment (P<0.0001). During the crossover trial, CGI parentratings were significantly lower under verum (average 1.67 points) than under placebo (P=0.0479). Long-term CGI improvement reached 12 points (63%, P<0.0001). Conclusion: The trial suggests scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly in the areas of behavioural and cognitive functions. Keywords Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder AE Homeopathy AE Individualised treatment AE Randomised double blind trial AE Treatment effectiveness Abbreviations ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder AE CGI: Conners' global index AE CPRS: Conners' parent rating scale (long form) AE CTRS: Conners teacher rating scale AE DSM-IV: diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders AE K-ABC: Kaufman assessment battery for children AE QCB: questionnaire of change of behaviour AE TAP: test battery for attention performance AE
Treatment for hyperactive children: homeopathy and methylphenidate compared in a family setting
The British homoeopathic journal, 2001
The sharp increase of the prescription of methylphenidate (MPD) in hyperactive children in recent years is a matter of increasing uneasiness among professionals, parents and politicians. There is little awareness of treatment alternatives. The purpose of this prospective trial was to assess the efficacy of homeopathy in hyperactive patients and to compare it MPD. The study was performed in a paediatric practice with conventional and homeopathic backgrounds. Children aged 3-17 y, conforming to the DSM-IV criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with a Conners Global Index (CGI) of 14 or higher were eligible for the study. All of them received an individual homeopathic treatment. When clinical improvement reached 50%, the parents were asked to reevaluate the symptoms. Those who did not improve sufficiently on homeopathy were changed to MPD, and again evaluated after 3 months. One hundred and fifteen children (92 boys, 23 girls) with a mean age of 8.3 y at diagnosis...
European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015
20 consecutively enrolled children age 5e16 with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) received treatment by a homeopath (8 consultations and individualized remedies) for one year. Ten subsequently enrolled children received similar time and attention for 4 months. The study explored optimum treatment protocols; the effectiveness, deliverability and acceptability of treatment; and the feasibility of outcome measurement and recruitment. Parents completed Conners' Parent Rating Scale, Revised Long Version (CPRS-R:L) every 4 months, from which DSMIV total scores were extracted; and Measure Your Own Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) every consultation. An interaction between time (baseline/4 months) and group (treatment/non-treatment) was found .756 F (1,28) = 9.06, p = 0.005. The intervention was associated with statistically significant improvements in treated children over the year: CPRS-R:L (t (18) = 4.529, p £ 0.000); MYMOP (t (18) = 6.938, p £ 0.000). Mean DSMIV total t scores decreased at each time point: baseline: 85 (SD 5.1); 4 months 76.2 (SD 10.9); and 12 months 71.5 (SD 12.77). Recruitment of control participants was problematic. Recruitment to treatment was feasible via ADHD support groups, charities, police support agencies and social services, not schools or NHS services. Attending appointments was problematic for some participants, but home visits did not improve uptake. The best venue was a familiar clinic. Some participants took medicines inappropriately, but generally taking homeopathic remedies was acceptable and well implemented. CPRS-R:L (80 items) was problematic for some parents. MYMOP was preferred by parents but not acceptable to stakeholders. In this small consecutive sample the intervention was associated with improvements in criminality, anger and children with a concomitant diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD. Treatment by a homeopath was associated with sustained, increasing improvements and the intervention was acceptable to participants. More methodically rigorous research is warranted. "We recommend that future research in this area uses compara
Alternate Therapy: A boon for symptoms like ADHD in children?
2013
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as symptoms like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is found to be rising alarmingly as evidenced by metaregression analyses estimated worldwide at 5.29 percent and 7.1 percent in children, and adolescentswith an increase by 42 percent between the years 2003 and 2011. In the Indian scenario a survey report in 2011 by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India estimated the rise in prevalence to have increased from 4 percent to 11 percent from 2005 to 2011, accounting the data only from ten major cities. The onset begins from childhood and continues through adolescence and adulthood. The main characteristics of the disorder are inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Symptoms like ADHD are a spectrum disorder with many other comorbid disorders overlapping and making the diagnosis difficult and also posing a challenge for children and their families. The other factors leading to the delay in diagnosis are lack of biomark...
Homeopathy, 2006
The rigorous test to which homeopathy was subject in the Bernese ADD/ADHD double blind trial necessitated an optimized treatment concept that would meet the highest standards. Methods: The optimization was performed in three steps: 1. In successfully treated children, preceding prescriptions leading to an insufficient response were analysed by means of a general questionnaire to identify unreliable symptoms. These symptoms were consequently precluded from repertorization. 2. Polarity analysis, a further development of Boenninghausen's concept of contraindications, was introduced in response to the frequently one-sided symptoms. This enabled us to use comparatively few but specific symptoms to identify the medicine whose genius-symptoms exhibits the closest match to the patient's characteristic symptoms. 3. In the next step we investigated the influence of the primary perception symptoms on the result of the repertorization. Perception symptoms are not normally recorded during a patient interview even though they are among the most reliable facts related by the patients. At the same time we were able to improve the continuity of improvement of ADHD symptoms using liquid Qpotencies. Results: Using the aforementioned questionnaire, polarity analysis, and including perception symptoms, the initial success rate of the first prescription improved from 21% to 54%, the success rate of the fifth prescription improved accordingly from 68% to 84%. Hence we were able to reach a significant outcome in favour of homoeopathy in the double blind study. Finally, we illustrate the new methodology using a case example.
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children that persist into adulthood. Commonly used medications, like stimulants, have serious side effects and short-lived effects, which limit their usage to a small group of children. This predicament leaves room for the exploration of various Complementary Alternative Medicines (CAM) and their efficacy in the place of pharmacological treatment or as an add-on treatment to reduce the dosage of stimulant medication. The absence of side effects draws parents to CAM. Some of the standard CAM therapies discussed in this article are dietary changes, behavioral changes, academic or school-based interventions, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Cognitive training, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Neurofeedback, Meditation, and yoga. Though the efficacy of the non-pharmacological treatments is still conflicting, parents continue to try out these Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Therapies and report improvements in ADHD symptoms and behavioral and academic gains.
PLOS ONE, 2017
Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders in childhood. A wide variety of treatments have been used for the management of ADHD. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of pharmacological, psychological and complementary and alternative medicine interventions for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents. Methods and findings We performed a systematic review with network meta-analyses. Randomised controlled trials (! 3 weeks follow-up) were identified from published and unpublished sources through searches in PubMed and the Cochrane Library (up to April 7, 2016). Interventions of interest were pharmacological (stimulants, non-stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and other unlicensed drugs), psychological (behavioural, cognitive training and neurofeedback) and complementary and alternative medicine (dietary therapy, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, herbal therapy, homeopathy, and physical activity). The primary outcomes were efficacy (treatment response) and acceptability (all-cause discontinuation). Secondary outcomes included
Evidence-Based Child Health: A Cochrane Review Journal, 2011
Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic behavioural disorder that affects 5-8% of children. It is characterized by age-inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that cause functional impairment in multiple settings. The most common treatment of ADHD involves prescription of stimulant medications, which often cause undesirable side effects and pose unknown long-term health risks. Therefore, alternative treatment options for ADHD are becoming increasingly popular and need to be further investigated.
Nonpharmacological Approaches Effective In Treating ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to Valera (as cited in Hodgson et al., 2014) is a neurobiological disorder commonly presenting in childhood. It is not exclusive to children. Some researchers argue that medication is currently the most common treatment choice worldwide (Meppelink, Bruin, & Bogels, 2016) because of its mercurial results, while others have argued that skill based psychosocial approaches are practical and effective methods of treating ADHD (Solanto, Marks, Wasserstein, Mitchell, Abikoff, Alvir, & Kofman., 2010). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2013), the American Psychiatric Association identifies three subtypes of the disorder, each with specific diagnostic criteria. While symptoms are similar regardless of age, experts argue that treatment should be adjusted over time to accommodate the changes that occur between childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (Sibley, Smith, Evans, Pelham, & Gnagy, 2012). Various strategies with cognitive and behavioral aspects have been effective in treating ADHD regardless of age. However, there are limitations to these studies; some patients received a trial of stimulant medication to meet study participation criteria. Studies that support the efficacy of behavioral interventions for treatment of ADHD are presented. These approaches should be considered prior to or in place of the use of stimulant medication.