Yesterday, May 6, the Department of Health presented the Protocol for the management of childhood and adolescent ADHD in the health system with the aim of promoting equity in the care of the population with a disorder due to the deficit of care with or without hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and responding to the request of family associations.
The presentation event was attended by the coordinator of Child and Youth Mental Health at Parc Taulí, Montserrat Pàmias. Dr. Pàmias is the coordinator of the ADHD working group of the Advisory Taulí of the Mental Health and Addictions Master Plan that has developed the protocol. The executive director of Mental Health Parc Taulí, Diego J. Palao, who attended the presentation, is also a member of the Taulí.
The ADHD working group is made up of multidisciplinary professionals with recognized expertise in the fields of psychology, clinical psychology and neuropediatrics, and has the support of the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Assessment (AQuAS).
The paper includes 10 recommendations for reducing variability in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents, as well as recommendations for coordination with the education system and working with families.
The protocol emphasizes that the diagnosis of ADHD should be made by a specialist in child psychiatry, clinical psychology, or neuropediatrics, and also highlights the need for an individualized school intervention program in all children with ADHD. In addition, it recommends psychological treatment as an initial treatment.
Key aspects of the protocol:
- Knowledge of ADHD by primary health care and education professionals is key to proper detection of the disorder.
- The diagnosis of ADHD should be made by a specialist in child psychiatry, clinical psychology or neuropediatrics. It is recommended to follow the DSM-IV or ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. It is important to rule out comorbidity, to take into account the evolutionary moment of the child or adolescent, as well as to value their family, social and school environment.
- Psychological treatment is recommended as an initial treatment. Behavioral psychotherapeutic treatment for parents is indicated in the first line in all children and adolescents with ADHD.
- The need for an individualized school intervention program in all children with ADHD is highlighted.
- In cases of ADHD with moderate and severe clinical, combined treatment is recommended, which includes psychological treatment, pharmacological and psychopedagogical intervention in school. Pharmacological treatment has a high efficacy and safety.
- Families should receive complete and valid information regarding the disorder and its treatment, including information about the disorder, treatment options, and indications and rules for using psychotropic drugs.
- The school care of children with ADHD, as well as the coordination between clinical services and the education system, is an essential point in the evolution of the child and adolescent with ADHD.
Press release from the Generalitat
Marta Fernández Chincolla
Good morning:
Dr. and psychiatrist Natalia Fort has detected my son's ADHD, and told us about the parent group.
I would need schedule information to sign up