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Adhd

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is most prevalent among adolescents
and adults. As such, nurses and health experts, in most cases, play a crucial role in the
management of children with ADHD. Effective diagnosis of ADHD involves careful history
taking, close observation of the patient's behavior and informants' reports, and use of
standardized rating scales. Stimulants appear to be most effective for patients with this diagnosis,
but pharmacotherapy for this disorder should be a combination of both behavioral and
educational interventions and careful follow-up to optimize treatment outcomes.
A diagnosis of ADHD requires much data collection and time and as such, is not made
lightly. Nurses don't have the primary obligation for making these diagnoses with an exception
of when functioning in duties like clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice nurse. However,
nurses are important in the entire process as they monitor, evaluate, and interact with the child,
the guardian, tutors, and other relevant persons to gather the information required to find the
correct mental health diagnosis.
The crucial function of evaluation in diagnosis and management of ADHD in children
requires that nurses learn and apply the right definitions to describe assessment and observational
information. An objective description of observations without making subjective interpretations
is key for the nurses. Besides the clinical assessment of the child, nurses are expected to assess
the impact of the child's mental health disorder on the child's family life, education, and social
functioning. In addition, risk of harm to self or others, and chances of neglect or abuse are
fundamental aspects to be considered in the assessment. A family background study of mental
health disorders should also be carried out as some of the disorders are inheritable, for instance
mood disorders.

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When collecting diagnostic data, it is vital to question the child, rather than the parent.
For instance, parents may be unaware of their older child or adolescent's difficulties with
sleeping.
Children may give sentiments like "No one likes me,"
or "I'm stupid." Depression in a
child can also be reflected in exaggerated somatic complaints for which no cause or successful
treatment is obtained.
The awareness that insomnia or stomach pains might actually be symptoms
of mental problems can shorten the time between diagnosis and presentation. Due to the
difficulty in arriving at a diagnosis at the first evaluation session, parents should be trained on
what behaviors they should observe, so as to make it possible to gather resourceful data during
the subsequent evaluation.
The pharmacologic agents used to treat pediatric BD include traditional mood stabilizers
like a typical antipsychotics, lithium, and divalproex sodium, and other anticonvulsants.
Methylphenidate, Amphetamine salts, and dexmethylphenidate are used as a Standard
pharmacologic treatment for ADHD.
Mood diaries may also be an effective tool for some children and/or families. A
customized plan of care must comprise recognition of and response to early warning signs such
as depression, sleeplessness, or high energy. Since adherence is unlikely to be adequate, support
from family members and others in the child's life towards the goals of treatment is needed.
Also, nurses should give emotional support for parents going through the ordeal of a child's
mental health diagnosis. By simply recognizing how depressing it is to parent a child with severe
ADHD, nurses can turn to be a source of comfort to such parents.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is most prevalent among adolescents and adults. As such, nurses and health experts, in most cases, play a crucial role in the management of children with ADHD. Effective diagnosis of ADHD involves careful history taking, close observation of the patient's behavior and informants' reports, and use of standardized rating scales. Stimulants appear to be most effective for patients with this diagnosis, but pharmacotherapy for this disorder should be a combination of both behavioral and educational interventions and careful follow-up to optimize treatment outcomes. A diagnosis of ADHD requires much data collection and time and as such, is not made lightly. Nurses don't have the primary obligation for making these diagnoses with an exception of when functioning in duties like clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice nurse. However, nurses a ...
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