Pre-school attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: 12 weeks prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Child Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Limited research exists on behavioral training and pharmacotherapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Indian preschool children.
• Effective, safe, and affordable early interventions are crucial due to potential adverse long-term outcomes.
• This study focuses on the short-term outcomes, safety, and tolerability of interventions for preschool ADHD in India.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the short-term outcomes of interventions for preschool ADHD in India.
• To assess the safety and tolerability of commonly prescribed medications.
• To inform the development of accessible and affordable early interventions.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of children aged 2.5-6 years diagnosed with ADHD.
• Assessment using Conner's abbreviated rating scale and Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale.
• Exclusion of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or social quotient below 50; statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Repeated Measures ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Out of 56 children, 33.93% received behavioral interventions alone, and 66.07% received a combination of medication and behavioral intervention.
• Clonidine was the most prescribed drug (44.64%), followed by risperidone (28.7%). Sedation was noted in 24% of children on clonidine.
• All children demonstrated significant improvement at 12 weeks (p < 0.001), regardless of the intervention type.

Conclusions:

• Intervention choices in India are primarily driven by medication affordability and availability.
• There is a critical need for structured, parent-focused behavioral training programs suitable for low-resource settings.
• Anti-ADHD medications should be integrated into national health programs to prevent over-prescription of antipsychotics in preschool ADHD.