A few years ago, researchers from several universities got together and developed a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health called the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA). Several of the sites were located in California, not far from Las Vegas. In the study, boys and girls ages 7-9 years were divided into four groups. One group received medication management for ADHD administered by a study doctor (MedMgt), a second group received behavioral treatment for ADHD (Beh), the third group received combination (Comb) for ADHD-both medication from the study doctors and behavior treatment, and the fourth group received treatment by their regular community doctor for ADHD (community comparison or CC group) for 14 months. The Beh and Comb group families received 35 sessions of behavior therapy for ADHD and the children attended an 8-week summer camp to improve their academic and social skills. The subjects in the MedMgt group received medication only for ADHD and saw the study doctor monthly. At the end of 14 months, the group who got Comb treatment for their ADHD fared the best with 68% having their ADHD symptoms decrease to the range of behavior symptoms seen in normal children. The MedMgt group was next, with 56% of those kids having their ADHD symptoms decrease to the normal range. In the Beh group 34% had ADHD symptoms normalize at 14 months. The kids who just saw their community doctors fared the worst with only 25% of those having their ADHD symptoms normalize. What does this mean for boys and girls with ADHD in Las Vegas? Both behavior therapy and medication are helpful in treating ADHD and children do best when they are treated by doctors who are experts in ADHD.
