Treatment & Lifestyle Recommendations

Treatment

Although medications are the cornerstone of treatment for ADHD, Dr. Bilkey recommends a multimodal treatment plan. Under a multimodal treatment plan, the following may be put into place:

  • Appropriate educational/ vocational plan.
  • Therapy (individual, marital, social skills, cognitive)
  • Appropriate physical and special interest activities
  • ADHD Coaching
  • CBT for ADHD
  • Treatment of comorbid conditions
  • Anti-ADHD Medication (stimulants and non-stimulants)

Dr. Bilkey may also make lifestyle recommendations to assist with the patient’s overall health and well-being.

Lifestyle Recommendations

ADHD and Substance Use Disorder

In August 2006 in a supplement to the American Journal of Psychiatry (Vol. 163, No. 8) titled “Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Substance Use Disorders, Second Edition” the co-occurrence of substance abuse and ADHD was noted.

According to the statistics shared in that journal:

  • 33% of patients have a history of an alcohol use disorder.
  • 50-60% have co-occurring nicotine dependence.
  • Among patients with alcohol, cocaine or opioid dependence, 17-50% have co-occurring ADHD

The journal also noted, however, that early interventions for childhood ADHD may help to prevent new-onset substance use disorders in adulthood.

Maternal smoking has been identified as a risk factor in causing ADHD and untreated individuals with ADHD are prone to becoming addicted to cigarettes.

Cannabis is often the drug of choice for those with ADHD, who report that it helps them to calm their restless minds, and allows them to go to sleep at night. THC, the active drug in cannabis, is known to affect numerous areas of the brain, including the Hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning; the Cortex, responsible for cognition; and the Nucleus Accumbens, the reward centre.

When being treated for ADHD, it is strongly suggested that patients reduce or totally eliminate the use of alcohol, cannabis or other street drugs.

ADHD and Driving

There is evolving literature about ADHD and driving, and this research demonstrates that ADHD people can be inattentive behind the wheel.

The fact that young adults with ADHD have an increased risk for traffic violations and accidents was reported by Russell A. Barkley, PhD, in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (2002;8:655-672). He reported that well over twice as many people with ADHD had been involved in three or more vehicular crashes, and more than four times as many people with ADHD had their license suspended or revoked. Driving proficiency will be evaluated through questionnaires and discussions with Dr. Bilkey.

Gambling and ADHD

Pathological gambling is an impulse disorder seen in some individuals who have ADHD. Patients whose lives are being affected by gambling are urged to seek assistance through such organizations as Gamblers’ Anonymous.

We evaluate for addictions and pathological gambling as part of the assessment.



    

 

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