AADPA releases prescribing guidelines for ADHD

The Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) has released “the first ever” ADHD Prescribing Guide for Australian healthcare professionals.

The guide is a direct response to the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for ADHD, and covers topics such as diagnosis, assessment, medication choice, dosing, monitoring, adverse effects, switching, stopping and specific populations, said AADPA Board President, and lead author of the guide, Professor David Coghill.

“Official data has highlighted significant variability in ADHD prescribing across the country; that is why the AADPA has worked tirelessly to provide this Guide. It delivers clear and consistent information on the pharmacological treatment of ADHD across different age groups and settings,” Coghill said.

The guide hopes to serve as a first step towards national prescribing standards for ADHD medications, and to improve the quality and consistency of care for people with ADHD and their families.

It intends to complement, not replace, the clinical judgement and expertise of healthcare professionals who prescribe or manage ADHD medications, Coghill emphasised.

“The guide is intended to be a living document that will be updated as necessary to reflect the latest evidence and best practice in the field of ADHD.”

AADPA Director, pharmacist and co-lead author Kate Tognarini said a founding principal of the Guide is that it is user friendly and focuses on the patient journey.

“When a person suspects they, or a family member, might have ADHD they are at the start of what can be a confusing and at times overwhelming journey. This Guide is another piece of the puzzle to allow health professionals to support them in the best way possible,” Tognarini said.

“The guide begins by following a typical patient journey, addresses common questions and highlights lived experiences.”

It’s important to note that while the focus of this Guide is on medication, the Association believes the most successful approach to managing ADHD is a mix of strategies, including psychoeducation, cognitive therapy, ADHD coaching and more.

“Further non-pharmacological information sheets have been released today as well because medication is just one intervention available to help people living with ADHD. These and others are freely available on the AADPA website,” Coghill said.

The guide was developed by an advisory group of cross-disciplinary health professionals, including pharmacists, clinicians, academics, researchers and people with lived experience of ADHD.

An expert advisory panel, with national and international experts will be established to manage the guide into the future. It is available to purchase in print and eBook formats from the AADPA website.

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