ADHD Research

The 2003 ADHD Study

With pediatrician Harlan Gephart, MD and K. Wurzbacher, Steve Tutty co-authored a study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in 2003.

• Enhancing behavioral and social skill functioning in children newly diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in a pediatric settingTutty S, Gephart H, Wurzbacher K. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2003;24(1):51–57.

  A study, run inside a pediatric practice, of a program to build behavioral and social skills in children who had just been diagnosed with ADHD. The aim was to improve how these children function day to day, not only to confirm the diagnosis.

What the study looked at

The paper's title states its three key features:

• Newly diagnosed children. The focus was the period right after diagnosis, when families are deciding what to do next.
• Behavioral and social skills. The target was day-to-day functioning: how children behave at home and school and how they get along with others, not only attention scores.
• A pediatric setting. The program was run where most children with ADHD are actually diagnosed and followed: the pediatrician's office.

In his own summary of the work, Steve Tutty describes it as a randomized controlled trial showing that stimulant medication alone is not sufficient for treating childhood ADHD.

Why the setting matters

Many children with ADHD are diagnosed and managed by a pediatrician rather than a specialist. A program that works in a specialty clinic does not always survive the move to a busy primary care practice. Studying a skills program inside a pediatric practice speaks directly to the care most families receive.

Background: ADHD beyond attention

ADHD is usually described in terms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. For families, the harder problems are often the ones that follow: trouble with friendships, conflict at home, missed assignments, and a growing sense of being "the kid who gets in trouble". Behavioral and social skill approaches, such as parent training and practice with social skills, are commonly used alongside medication to address those problems.

How it carries into his evaluations

When Steve Tutty tests a child for ADHD today, the report does not stop at the diagnosis. It also sorts out what else may be contributing, such as anxiety or a learning disability, and gives specific strategies for home and school. Families looking for ADHD testing in Manhattan can read more at Aspyre Psychology.