What Influences How Doctors Choose ADHD Treatments for Children?

What you need to know

• Clinicians are more likely to recommend ADHD medication than parent training, despite guidelines recommending both
• Less experienced clinicians and those with non-medical backgrounds report using clinical guidelines less often
• Long waiting lists and staff shortages are major barriers preventing clinicians from recommending parent training

Why Treatment Choices Matter

Imagine you’re a parent whose child was just diagnosed with ADHD. You want the best treatment possible, but you discover that what one doctor recommends might be completely different from another. Why does this happen, and how can we ensure children receive the most effective, evidence-based care?

The Treatment Gap

Research shows that behavioral parent training and medication are both effective treatments for children with ADHD. However, not all children receive these evidence-based treatments. This study examined why, by surveying 219 mental health professionals about how they make treatment decisions.

What Influences Treatment Decisions

The study found that clinicians’ personal attitudes strongly influence their treatment recommendations. Those with positive views about medication were more likely to prescribe it, while those favoring parent training recommended it more often. Experience level also played a role - clinicians with less than two years of experience were less likely to use clinical guidelines compared to more experienced colleagues.

Barriers to Parent Training

Despite generally positive attitudes toward parent training, several obstacles prevent clinicians from recommending it:

• Almost 20% reported not having enough trained staff to provide parent training
• Nearly one-third cited long waiting lists as a reason for recommending other treatments
• Many clinicians rely on their personal judgment about whether parents would benefit, rather than offering it universally as guidelines recommend

What This Means for You

If you’re seeking treatment for a child with ADHD, consider these steps:

• Ask your healthcare provider about both medication and parent training options
• Request information about their experience with different treatments
• Don’t hesitate to ask why they’re recommending particular treatments
• If parent training isn’t initially offered, specifically ask about its availability
• Be prepared to advocate for evidence-based treatments recommended by clinical guidelines

Conclusions

• Treatment decisions for ADHD vary significantly between clinicians based on their personal attitudes and experience
• More consistent use of clinical guidelines could help ensure children receive evidence-based care
• Healthcare systems need to address practical barriers like waiting lists and staff shortages to make parent training more accessible