Helping to Prove Behavioral Interventions Can Reduce Need for ADHD Medications

Dr. Allison Garefino helps pave the way for behavioral interventions in adolescent mental health

KENNESAW, Ga. (Nov 8, 2019) 鈥� Dr. Allison Garefino, Clinical Director of 新澳门六合彩资料  at 新澳门六合彩资料 in the 新澳门六合彩资料 along with sixteen additional authors have recently published a new research article "Randomized Trial of First-Line Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Need for Medication in Children with ADHD" in the 

I have adhd written on chalk board being held by a child

The 鈥渟tudy conducted in an analogue summer treatment setting showed that when concurrently receiving behavioral intervention, many children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) did not need medication or maximized responsiveness at very low doses.鈥� Participants were children between the ages of 5 and 13 who were diagnosed with ADHD per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria.

"Having been a part of this research, and as Clinical Director of the Children and Family Programs, we are offering these same behavioral interventions right here at 新澳门六合彩资料, which are just as effective as medication, without any side effects," said Dr. Garefino, who is also a Research Scholar in .

The CFP offers inservices, treatment, and prevention services to parents and teachers working with children with other behaviors that put them at risk for behavioral, social, and academic failure. These include children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD). 

The current study adds to a growing literature showing that the use of relatively low-intensity behavioral interventions as the first-line treatment for childhood ADHD can delay, reduce, or eliminate the need for medication in school and home settings. For now, providers and payers who want to increase use of behavioral services should recommend them prior to prescribing medication.

Dr. Garefino is continuing this work not only clinically within the community, but also via research, all while training 新澳门六合彩资料  in these behavioral interventions.

 -Nicole Connelly

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