1. ADHD in Adults Slideshow Pictures
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3. ADHD Symptoms in Children Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She is a former Chair of the Committee on Developmental Disabilities for the American Psychiatric Association, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Medical Director of the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, Maryland.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Research suggests that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often respond extremely well to stimulants and at times antidepressants. Treatment options and successes are similar to those in childhood ADHD. Counseling, also called psychotherapy, can play an important role in treatment by helping to develop increased awareness of ineffective habits. Therapy can also be a way to develop activities to build organizational and planning skills. However, no current research has demonstrated that counseling alone will eliminate the actual symptoms of ADHD; that is, counseling can become more effective once an effective medication is found. Medication will "start the engine" but not necessarily provide a way to "steer." In other words, counseling may help with issues of marital instability or poor interpersonal skill but by itself will not end inattention, impulsivity, or feelings of restlessness.

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