NSG 6101 WEEK 10 RESEARCH PROPOSAL - ADHD TREATMENT RESEARCH PROPOSAL

NSG 6101 WEEK 10 RESEARCH PROPOSAL - ADHD TREATMENT RESEARCH PROPOSAL. Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychological disorder that affects both children and adults. Symptoms associated with ADHD include difficulty focusing, inattention, fidgeting, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. With 9% of children in the United States being affected by ADHD, it is imperative to determine the appropriate course of treatment for school aged children that have the least amount of side effects. The purpose of this study is to determine if the nonpharmacological intervention behavioral therapy has the same results as the stimulant therapy Methylphenidate in school aged children ages 4-6. Background ADHD was first noted by Dr. George Still, a pediatrician who first noted uncontrolled impulsive behavior in his patients. In 1936 a drug called Benzedrine was approved by the FDA and incidentally was shown to help improve symptoms of ADHD in children. It was not until the 1950’s that Ritalin was introduced as a first line treatment for ADHD in children and adolescents (Holland & Higuera, 2017). Ritalin remains one of the number one stimulant medication used in treating ADHD to date. Although physicians were treating patients with ADHD like symptoms since the 1930’s, the definition of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder was not brought to light until 1987 when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) redefined the disorder and gave it the name we use today. Approximately 6.1 million children ages 2-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2016 ("ADHD," 2018). Although more prevalent among children and adolescents, ADHD can carry on into adulthood. The symptoms of ADHD are usually noticed once children begin school and begin to have issues with focusing in the classroom. There are three forms of ADHD: inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive type or combined type. The process of diagnosis children ADHD TREATMENT RESEARCH DESIGN 3 with ADHD involves documentation from parents and teachers reporting symptoms of children over a six-month time frame. ADHD is more commonly seen in adolescent males but affects females as well. Stimulant therapy is the number one intervention and is considered the standard treatment for children once they reach the appropriate age. Stimulants, like most medications, can have adverse side effects ranging from mild to severe. These side effects include headaches, upset stomach, appetite changes, weight loss, insomnia, tics, and heart abnormalities. Although 70-80% effective in treating symptoms of ADHD, there are alternative therapies that do not require the use of stimulant medications to help minimize symptoms associated with ADHD. Statement of the Problem and Purpose of the Study Six out of every ten children diagnosed with ADHD are utilizing some form of stimulant therapy as first line treatment ("ADHD," 2018). Past studies have shown when placed on stimulant therapy almost all if not all participants develop one or more adverse side effects from stimulant medications (Khalili, et al.2014). Side effects can be mild, moderate, or severe. Often with medication therapy children grown immune to specific drugs over time requiring upping medication dosages or changing medications all together causing the risk of new side effects. The purpose of this study is to determine if the nonpharmacological behavioral therapy has the same effects on symptoms associated with ADHD of that of the stimulant therapy, Methylphenidate. Implementing nonpharmacological interventions such as behavioral therapy as the first line treatment not only in preschool age children but school aged children as well has the potential to cut down the usage of stimulants drastically. If symptoms can be managed with nonpharmacological therapies such as behavioral therapy, children would not have to risk the change of side effects associated with stimulant drugs. ADHD TREATMENT RESEARCH DESIGN 4 Literature Review Attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder affects six out of every 10 children (nine percent) of children in the United States ("ADHD," 2018). Stimulant therapy, specifically Methylphenidate, remains the number one course of treatment for most children with ADHD symptoms. However, there are nonpharmacological therapies including behavioral therapy that are possibly just as effective as said pharmacological therapy. A literature review was conducted through the South University’s library. Initially, the terms “ADHD treatments” between the years were utilized resulting in 5,873 articles. The terms “young children”