How ADHD Is Diagnosed
Return to The Doctor Is Not In: ADHD's Pediatrician Problem

The Doctor Is Not In: ADHD's Pediatrician Problem

America’s pediatricians are increasingly expected to diagnose and treat ADHD and other mental health conditions in their patients — even though many lack the expertise and confidence to do so. Here’s how to solve the patient-provider mismatch.

3 Comments: The Doctor Is Not In: ADHD's Pediatrician Problem

  1. I think additional training for rising pediatricians needs to happen in residency. It should focus on the big four and when and to whom to send more complex cases. In what universe should it take 7 more years of PGE to turn a practicing pedi into a child psychiatrist? Are they first training them in adult psych? A pediatrician shouldn’t have such a high burden. a three year program at MOST!

    Then too, there are intermediate providers who could do the evaluations and provide the pedi with recommendations of where to start and suggestions for meds, the pedi would make the choice out of a reduced number of options and a good decision tree to work from. Make sure all the professionals are speaking the same language and using the same evaluation tools.

    I’ve seen pedis do an excellent job working with therapists and schools to help a child.

  2. I further support legislation that allows specialty-trained medical psychologists to prescribed psychoactive medication. The curriculum for medical prescribing psychologists requires many years of training in mental health care, which includes a doctoral degree and an advanced post-doctoral degree in clinical psychopharmacology as well as several years of clinical training (designed by national experts in psychopharmacology including physicians, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, pharmacists and nurses.) Again, if the goal is to provide better access to prescribers who are highly trained–specifically in mental health care, we need to recognize psychiatric APRNs and medical prescribing psychologists as well as physicians.

  3. Psychiatric APRN’s in most states [including Ohio] have been diagnosing and prescribing psychostimulants for patient with ADHD for many years. Many of us have been trained well and have expertise as well as experience with this population. We are a resource that is typically not identified in articles and educational literature to patients or parents. If the goal is to have better access to treatment for patients with ADHD, we need to include all professionals who can diagnose, prescribe, and manage treatment.

Leave a Reply