Trained parents could help avoid medication of children with ADHD

Using medication to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could be avoided if parents were trained to help them deal with their emotions and improve their social skills, a study suggests.

It found that more than 40% of children showing high levels of behavioural difficulties fell into the normal range just 20 weeks after a parent programme intervention.

The NUI Maynooth study has found there has been a 62% increase in prescriptions for ADHD drugs over the past six years.