Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use by ADHD Patients: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Integrative Medicine
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Investigating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in ADHD is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
• Understanding the patterns and predictors of CAM use can inform clinical practice.

Approach:

• Systematic literature review of studies on CAM use in ADHD patients.
• Searched major scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus) up to February 2022.
• Included 12 original studies encompassing 4,447 patients.

Key Points:

• CAM use prevalence in ADHD ranges from 7.5% to 67.6%.
• Dietary modifications and natural products are the most commonly reported CAM therapies.
• Higher parental education emerged as a predictive factor for CAM utilization.

Conclusions:

• CAM therapies are frequently used by individuals with ADHD.
• Healthcare providers require education on common CAM modalities and potential adverse effects.
• Further research into CAM's efficacy and safety in ADHD management is warranted.