Don't medications effectively treat ADHD?

Yes.Medications are currently the first-line treatment approach for adult ADHD, and they are the most extensively studied. However a good number of individuals (approximately 20-50%) who take medication are considered nonresponders. A nonresponder is an individual whose symptoms are not sufficiently reduced, or people who cannot tolerate the medications. Additionally, adults who are considered responders typically show a reduction in only 50% or less of the core symptoms of ADHD. Because of these data, recommendations for the best treatment of adult ADHD include using psychotherapy (cognitive-behavior therapy, in particular) with medications. Medications can reduce many of the core symptoms of ADHD: attentional problems, high activity, and impulsivity. CBT provides coping skills and strategies to pick up where the medication leaves off. Q: How prevalent is adult ADHD? A: Estimates of the prevalence of ADHD in adulthood range from 1 to 5%. This is consistent with estimates that ADHD ...  more