Abstract
This literature review studied the effects and results of using pharmaceutical versus
non-pharmaceutical treatments for ADHD. Background research was done on the types of
treatments available. Among the pharmaceutical treatments, stimulants containing Amphetamine
such as Adderall, Dexedrine, and Ritalin (methylphenidate) are very common for treating
ADHD. Treatments such as Ritalin focus on increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the
brain in order to increase the activity of the brain circuits to control unfocused thought processes.
Sedative drugs such as Benzodiazepines are central nervous system (CNS) depressants which
help to slow down activity in the CNS. Non-pharmaceutical treatments observed included
behavioral therapy, neurofeedback, dietary restriction, biofeedback, natural supplements, and
intense exercise. Based on the background research, it was hypothesized that if a literature
review studies the effectiveness of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments for
ADHD, then using non-pharmaceutical treatments in conjunction with low doses of
pharmaceutical treatments would be most effective. The evidence that led to this prediction came
from numerous studies that found combination treatment to be highly effective. A total of 16
studies were collected and analyzed to assess the overall effectiveness of various treatment
options in addressing ADHD symptoms. Treatment side-effects as well as specific areas of
improvement were also analyzed. It was seen that 8 out of 10 pharmaceutical treatments were
effective compared to 8 out of 9 non-pharmaceutical treatments. Chi-squared tests were
performed and it was seen that there was not much of a difference in the effectiveness of ADHD
treatments when comparing pharmaceutical to non-pharmaceutical approaches Two more
chi-squared tests were undertaken to determine whether statistically significant differences in
effectiveness exist between pharmaceutical treatments compared to combination treatments and
similarly between non-pharmaceutical treatments compared to combination. However, in both
cases, the null hypothesis was accepted based on p-values greater than .05.Consequently, the
hypothesis that a combination treatment would be most effective for treating ADHD was not
supported. The results of this study show that one specific treatment for ADHD is not much
better than the others, and,while all three treatments proved to be somewhat effective, further
research needs to be done to find more highly effective treatments. The fact that pharmaceutical,
non-pharmaceutical, and combination therapies did not show significantly different outcomes
points to a positive result for patients, who may feel empowered by having legitimate choices
about how to treat their ADHD symptoms.
Introduction
Which is a more beneficial ADHD treatment, a pharmaceutical treatment, a
non-pharmaceutical treatment, or a combination of the two?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder caused by the imbalance
of chemical neurotransmitters in a person’s brain. Many sufferers of ADHD tend to act on
impulse and not think about the consequences. Symptoms of ADHD include forgetfulness,
hyperactivity, disorganization, not completing tasks, , lack of focus, and possessing irregular
sleeping habits. (Evans, 2001). Sleep and ADHD are very much interconnected. Additionally,
certain medications used in the treatment of anxiety and attention deficit disorders have side
effects which disrupt a person’s sleep and can cause sleep apnea. (Owens, 2009). At least 25% of
people diagnosed with ADHD are at an increased risk for sleep-related breathing issues. Studies
have found that 50% of children with ADHD have breathing issues during their sleep (Cherwin,
Sleep Foundation).
The symptoms of ADHD can lead to poor social skills, poor academic performance,
isolation, and dependence on others to help with basic functioning (Cherwin, Sleep Foundation).
Depression, stress, and anxiety are also linked to diagnosis with ADHD, either as a potential
cause or a side-effect of the disorder. Because ADHD is connected to feelings of anxiety and
restless sleep, it is important to consider the possible treatments for anxiety and sleep as possible
treatments for ADHD (Bhandari, 2016).
ADHD is often treated with a pharmaceutical, usually a stimulant medication. Stimulant
drugs are able to excite functions in the Central Nervous System (CNS), and thus promote
alertness and an elevated mood (Evans, 2001). Used extremely commonly in ADHD treatment
protocols, these drugs seem to benefit 70% of ADHD patients who use them. Amphetamine is
one of the most commonly used active ingredients in ADHD medication. Amphetamine can be
found in medications such as Adderall, Dexedrine, and Methylphenidate. These stimulant
medications trigger an increase in the amount of the neurotransmitters dopamine and
norepinephrinein brain. As a result, more neurotransmitters increase the activity of brain circuits
which is able to alleviate the unfocused brain activity commonly seen in ADHD sufferers.
However, this medication does come with strong side effects for many users, including insomnia,
low appetite, and feelings of anxiety. These stimulant treatments have short-term effects on
people, which usually only last a few hours (Palombi, 2009). Not all stimulant medications prove
to be helpful. In some patients, non-stimulant medications appear to work better with fewer
side-effects. Non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine, clonidine, or guanfacine may be
better alternatives in such cases. (WebMd, Healthwise).
Along with ADHD medications that treat symptoms of the disorder, other medications
which address the underlying causes of ADHD may also be useful in curing ADHD altogether.
The leading symptoms of ADHD,trouble focusing, short attention span, hyperactivity, and poor
organizational skills, all are also leading factors in cases of stress and anxiety (Evans, 2001).
Stress and anxiety in ADHD patients can lead to a variety of secondary health problems,
including Tourette’s syndrome, anxiety attacks, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain (Bhandari, 2016).
In some cases, taking medication for stress and anxiety has proven beneficial in mitigating
ADHD symptoms. Anxiety medications, which include sedatives (CNS depressants),
Benzodiazepines, and Bupropriond, affects an area of the brain that also contributes to ADHD
symptoms (Mills, 2008).
Along with Pharmaceutical treatments, non-pharmaceutical treatments are also possible
treatment options for ADHD sufferers. Behavior therapy is a very common treatment option
which is quite often used alongside the use of pharmaceutical treatments. Behavior therapy is
when children with ADHD learn various methods of attention-regulation, including
problem-solving, communication, and self-advocacy skills (WebMd, Healthwise). This kind of
treatment is also seen as helping root causes to ADHD such as anxiety and stress. Behavior
treatment for students can also entail learning note-taking, social, and problem solving skills
(Evans, 2001). Just as stress and anxiety pharmaceutical treatments may be helpful in treating
ADHD, so too are the non-pharmaceutical treatments.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, meditation, a healthy diet,
Hypnotherapy, Biofeedback and sound therapy are all non-pharmaceutical options for
anxiety-driven ADHD sufferers. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a self-instructed
training which helps to develop a more reflective approach to thinking and behaving. It is a
goal-oriented approach to everyday situations and problem-solving (such as in school). Other
behavioral therapies include parent-led behavioral therapy and classroom-based behavioral
therapy. Parent-led behavioral therapy informs parents of ADHD sufferers of how they can help
their children through therapeutic and behavior management skills. Classroom-based behavioral
therapy combines behavior modification and cognitive behavioral techniques. It is specifically
geared towards informing teachers about how to help students with ADHD. Neurofeedback
involves computer-based exercises which give feedback on the progress one has made
augmenting their attention levels. As a patient is doing the exercises, an electroencephalogram
monitors the efficiency of their brain behavior (Mills, 2008).
A few studies have looked closely at the effects of pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical,
and combination therapies for ADHD. In one experiment, ADHD teens completed a behavioral
therapy treatment program alongside taking low doses of stimulant medications. The study
subjects were 40 boys and 5 girls in a summer program at the University of Pittsburgh. Along
with receiving a behavioral treatment plan, children also received either 10, 20, or 30 mg of a
stimulant or placebo medication. Results showed that around two-thirds of teens, those taking a
low dose of stimulants, improved abundantly in their academics. Only one sixth of students,
those taking a 20 mg dose (higher dose of Ritalin), showed improvement. The study concluded
that the combination of both stimulants and behavioral treatment led to the greatest
improvements in the student subjects. (Evans, 2001). Another experiment compared the
effectiveness of seven non-pharmaceutical treatments, including behavior modification,
Neurofeedback therapy, school-based programs, and parental training. Out of all the
non-pharmaceutical treatments, behavior modification and neurofeedback proved to be the most
effective at treating ADHD (Evans, 2013).
Based on this literature review, it is hypothesized that a comparison between the
effectiveness of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments for ADHD will reveal that
non-pharmaceutical treatments taken together with low doses of pharmaceutical treatments will
produce the greatest benefits for patients. Pharmaceutical treatments have proven to be helpful to
70% of ADHD sufferers(WebMD, Healthwise); however, symptoms such as fatigue and
insomnia could also lead to more serious side effects, including anxiety and depression. Also,
many pharmaceutical treatments, specifically stimulants, are not very long-lasting, treat only
symptoms rather than underlying causes, and do not actually cure ADHD (Palombi, 2009).
Non-pharmaceutical treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other forms of
therapy focus on ridding stress and anxiety, which in some cases represent the root causes of
ADHD (Mills, 2008). Because specific pharmaceutical treatments oriented towards anxiety and
stress are similarly short-acting, they possess some of the same limitations as the stimulant
treatments in terms of treating symptoms rather than root causes.
In this study, the procedure will include reading research articles and evaluating existing
published data on the effectiveness of ADHD treatments. Evidence of the effectiveness of
pharmaceutical treatments will be compared to evidence of the effectiveness of
non-pharmaceutical treatments. Evidence of the effectiveness of combination therapies will also
be collected and evaluated. Side effects, including rates of depression and anxiety, will also be
studied comparatively across the three treatment types: pharmaceutical therapies,
non-pharmaceutical therapies, and combination therapies. By comparing the effectiveness and
relative side-effects of the various treatment types, it will be possible conclude which treatment
option is most beneficial to the overall wellbeing of patients with ADHD.
Experimental Design
Material List
● 10 or more primary sources (data tables, graphs) with published data as to the
effectiveness of the three types of ADHD treatments:
○ Pharmaceutical treatments
○ Non-pharmaceutical treatments
○ Combination treatments
● Pencil
● Laptop (for sources, statistical tests, and data analysis)
● Science journal
Procedure
1. At least 20 sources of experiments must be collected, reviewed and summarized for
treatments of ADHD including pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical, or using both.
Summary includes treatments used, on what group of patients, long term/short term
results and effectiveness, and as well as side effects.
2. Raw table should be made of these results of the outcomes of pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments.
3. Chi squared tests will be done in order to see if there is a significant difference between
the effectiveness of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments.
4. Results of tests will be recorded and displayed through formal tables
5. The specific types of treatments used in studies for pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments will be displayed in a pie chart.
6. Also, the negative side effects of the treatments will also be displayed through a pie chart
Bibliography
Akhondzadeh, Shahin, et al. “Selegiline in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder in Children: a Double Blind and Randomized Trial.” Progress in
Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, vol. 27, no. 5, 2003, pp.
841–845.
Bhandari, Smitha, editor. "ADHD and Stress." WebMD, 18 May 2016, www.webmd.com/
add-adhd/guide/adhd-and-stress#1. Accessed 17 Oct. 2017.
Bilici, M, et al. “Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Zinc Sulfate in the Treatment of
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology &
Biological Psychiatry., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2004,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14687872.
Catalá-López, Ferrán. "The Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents:Protocol for a Systematic
Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials." NCBI, U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 27 Feb. 2015,
Chervin, Ronald, and Jodi Mindell, editors. "ADHD and Sleep Problems." National Sleep
Foundation, sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/adhd-and-sleep. Accessed 17
Oct. 2017.
“Controlled Stimulant Treatment of ADHD and Comorbid Tourette's Syndrome: Effects of
Stimulant and Dose.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry, Elsevier, 12 Nov. 2009,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856709628240.
Evans, Steven W. "Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Children and Adolescents with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18
Nov. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025987/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2017.
Evans, Steven. "Teens' ADHD Treatment Gets Low-Dose Boost." The Free Library, Gale
Group,
2001,www.thefreelibrary.com/Teens%27+ADHD+treatment+gets+low-dose+boost-a076
157734. Accessed 17 Oct. 2017.
Grönlund, Erna, et al. “Dance/Movement Therapy as an Alternative Treatment for Young Boys
Diagnosed as ADHD: A Pilot Study.” SpringerLink, Springer US, 1 Mar. 2006,
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10465-005-9000-1.
Harding, K L, et al. “Outcome-Based Comparison of Ritalin versus Food-Supplement Treated
Children with AD/HD.” Alternative Medicine Review : a Journal of Clinical
Therapeutic.,U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine,Aug.2003,www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
12946241.
Hartanto, T. A., et al. “A Trial-by-Trial Analysis Reveals More Intense Physical Activity Is
Associated with Better Cognitive Control Performance in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder.” Child Neuropsychology, vol. 22, no. 5, 2015, pp. 618–626.
"How to Treat Anxiety Naturally." Calm Clinic,
www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/treatment/naturally. Accessed 17 Oct. 2017.
Jensen, Peter S. “A 14-Month Randomized Clinical Trial of Treatment Strategies for
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.”Archives of General Psychiatry.
Jensen, Peter S. “A Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:
Evidence From a National Study.”Yearbook of Psychiatry and Applied Mental Health,
vol. 2006, 2006, pp. 53–54.
Kaplan, B J, et al. “Dietary Replacement in Preschool-Aged Hyperactive Boys.” Pediatrics.,
U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 1989, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2909977.
Lansbergen, M. M., et al. “ADHD and EEG-Neurofeedback: a Double-Blind Randomized
Placebo-Controlled Feasibility Study.”Journal of Neural Transmission, vol. 118, no. 2,
2010, pp. 275–284.
Michelson, David, et al. “Atomoxetine in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled,
Dose-Response Study.” Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1 Nov. 2001,
pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/108/5/e83
Mills, Harry, et al. "Medication Strategies for Stress Relief." MentalHelp.net, Centersite, 30 June
2008, www.mentalhelp.net/articles/medication-strategies-for-stress-relief/. Accessed 17
Oct. 2017.
"Non-Pharmacological Treatments for ADHD." ADHD Institute, SHIRE, Jan. 2017,
adhd-institute.com/disease-management/non-pharmacological-therapy/. Accessed 17 Oct.
2017.
Owens, Judith A. "A Clinical Overview of Sleep and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in
Children and Adolescents." NCBI, Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry, 18 May 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2687494/. Accessed
17 Oct. 2017.
Palombi, Peggy Shadduck. “"Biology of ADHD"” Encyclopedia of Life Science, Facts On File,
2009. Science Online, online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Details/275408?q=ADHD.
Accessed 12 Nov. 2017.
Pelham, William E., et al. “Transdermal Methylphenidate, Behavioral, and Combined Treatment
for Children With ADHD.”Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, vol. 13, no.
2, 2005, pp. 111–126.
Rossiter, Thomas. “The Effectiveness of Neurofeedback and Stimulant Drugs in Treating
AD/HD: Part II. Replication.” Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, vol. 29, no. 4,
2004, pp. 233–243.
Safren, Steven A., et al. “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ADHD in Medication-Treated
Adults with Continued Symptoms.” Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 43, no. 7,
2005, pp. 831–842.
Safren, Steven A., et al. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs Relaxation with Educational Support
for Medication-Treated Adults with ADHD and Persistent Symptoms: A Randomized
Controlled Trial.” JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, American
Medical Association, 18 Mar. 2016,
So, Cheryl Y.c., et al. “Treatment Effectiveness of Combined Medication/Behavioural
Treatment with Chinese ADHD Children in Routine Practice.” Behaviour Research and
Therapy, vol. 46, no. 9, 2008, pp. 983–992.
WebMD LLC. "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Topic Overview."
Healthwise, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/tc/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-t
opic-overview#1. Accessed 17 Oct. 2017.
Discussion and Conclusions
In this investigation, the hypothesis if a literature review studies the effectiveness of
pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments for ADHD sufferers, then using
non-pharmaceutical treatments in conjunction with low doses of pharmaceutical treatments
would be most effective, was not supported in a statistically significant manner. The p-value
comparing the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical treatments was not
significant at p < 0.05 and therefore the null hypothesis was not rejected. When the null
hypothesis is not rejected it indicates that there is not a significant difference in the positive and
negative effects of both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments. Despite the fact that
2 pharmaceutical treatments were seen as not very effective compared to 1 non-pharmaceutical
treatment that was seen as not very effective (Table 1), the chi-squared test does not show a
statistically significant difference between pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments.
Despite the statistically similarity of the different treatment options, it is worth noting the
side effects from certain pharmaceutical treatments listed in the raw data table, including high tic
severity, insomnia, and headaches. Even though the chi-squared test shows that overall
throughout all 16 experiments analyzed, statistically both pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments showed equal effectiveness in treating ADHD, the side effects of
pharmaceutical treatments must be considered in discerning what is holistically in the best
interest of the ADHD patient.With nearly equal effectiveness, such results allow sufferers of
ADHD to choose between taking a prescribed medication such as methylphenidate and
Dextroamphetamine, or an alternative treatment such as cognitive behavioral treatment or
behavioral management treatment (figure 6 and 7). These options are especially helpful if the
side effects have a negative effect on the patient’s overall health.
Along with testing the comparative effectiveness of pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments, the comparative of effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical and
combination treatments was also tested. Between the two categories of testing, both
non-pharmaceutical and combination treatments treated children with ADHD while one study
from each category focused on ADHD in adults. There were 5 very effective non-pharmaceutical
treatments and 4 very effective pharmaceutical treatments;however, the p-value of the test was
not significant (based on the p < 0.05 standard) and therefore the null hypothesis was not
rejected able 2). Similarly, the null hypothesis was again not rejected when comparing the
effectiveness of pharmaceutical and combination treatments (Table 3). These results show
that,contrary to widely held beliefs by medical experts that the best treatment for ADHD is a
combination of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments, the statistics of these studies
suggest otherwise (Mills, 2008).
The results of a combination treatment not having superior effectiveness for ADHD
patients was quite shocking, because it was seen that both pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments are created to more effectively prevent ADHD behavior. For
example, a study was conducted in which a combination of intensive behavioral treatment
(non-pharmaceutical) and medication management (pharmaceutical) was used on children
diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 7 and 14. The study found that this combination
treatment was extremely effective in improving the areas of social skills, family relations, and
reading (Strain, 2006). Such results are expected because moderate dosages of pharmaceutical
treatments such as methylphenidate are best known for providing individuals with enough
dopamine and norepinephrine in their system (Healthwise, 2015). Also, intensive behavioral
treatment focuses on educating children to outgrow their ADHD symptoms by specifically
helping them to overcome anxiety and mood disorders which often result from ADHD (Miller,
2015).
The results of the chi-squared tests show that pharmaceutical as well as
non-pharmaceutical treatment enthusiasts and innovators must re-evaluate the actual positive
effectiveness of their treatments. While it has been analyzed through the raw data table and
shown through Tables 1, 2, and 3 that most pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical, and
combination treatments are highly effective in treating ADHD symptoms such as behavior,
emotion, family relations, auditory and visual response and attention (table and figure 4), not one
single type of treatment is seen as significantly more helpful than the other treatments. Even
though many treatments are successful, most treatments have not been fully studied for possible
long-term negative physical or emotional effects, especially in developing children. Despite the
success of possible pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments, scientists must be able to
innovate a highly effective treatment which is able to tackle ADHD without the slow
effectiveness, harsh side effects, and short-term usefulness that many current treatments offer.
This study brings to awareness that treatments of ADHD must be much further studied and
improved. ADHD changes the course of a child’s life and can become very dangerous when it is
carried out through adulthood; it can make finishing tasks extremely difficult and can lead to
other severe disorders such as ODD, anxiety, depression, and dyslexia (Healthwise, 2015). It is
very important that a treatment or even a cure is found which proves to be the most effective for
all age groups suffering from ADHD.
The results of the chi-squared tests also provide positive outcomes. The fact that
pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical, and combination treatments for ADHD all show very
similar effectiveness allows for patients to decide what treatment they would like to depend on.
This study demolishes the belief that an alternative method to medication is much safer and
healthier for an individual than a pharmaceutical treatment. While such a stereotype may be
reliable for other disorders or diseases, it is proved to not be the case for ADHD. While both
pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments have very successful effects on individuals,
individuals may not need to be pressured to take prescribed medications, or use an alternative
method. This could become very helpful to sufferers of ADHD who may not be able to afford
expensive pharmaceutical treatments. Also, if an individual may experience side effects by
substances in specific pharmaceutical treatments, they will always have the opportunity to use an
equally effective non-pharmaceutical treatment. Having choices can feel empowering to parents
of young children and patients of all ages.
There were experimental errors observed in this literature review. Experimental errors
included that the project did not focus on finding studies experimenting with one specific
demographic group,since there were groups of young children, adolescents,and adults.
Comparing studies of such varied groups of people could explain the varying effects of
pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments on individuals and calls into question the
validity of statistical comparisons. Also, certain subjects tested also suffered from other illnesses
such as tourette’s syndrome, which could also affect the outcomes of using pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments(Castellanos, 1997). Lastly,not enough studies were collected for
each type of medication. The results would be more accurate if specific types of pharmaceutical
treatments were assessed separately.
As a result of the literature review, it was seen that both pharmaceutical and
non-pharmaceutical treatments as well as a combination treatment provide equally effective
results for ADHD sufferers. In the future, in order to find a specific treatment that would be far
more effective, studies using antidepressants and anxiety medications for ADHD sufferers
should be analyzed and compared to the medications specific for ADHD. Medications specific to
depression and anxiety may prove to help far better with ADHD because depression and anxiety
are thought of as possible side effects and, in some cases, causes of ADHD (Bhandari, 2016).
Also, for further research, it would be interesting to focus on a certain brand of pharmaceutical
treatment, or a certain method of non-pharmaceutical treatment, and to conclude whether certain
treatments have varying effects on different age groups of ADHD sufferers. ADHD is a very
prominent disorder especially among adolescents. The disorder can strongly affect the way in
which children learn and grow. Permanent ADHD can also affect individuals for a lifetime. New
technology such as Crossinology Brain Integration Technique allows doctors to locate areas of
blockage in the brain for individuals with ADHD and doctors are able to correct the path of
neurosignals in the brain as an alternative medicine approach (Beach, 2014). It would be
interesting for the future to research the results and long-lasting effects of such treatment plans in
comparison to established pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments. Being able to
evaluate and research the most effective pharmaceutical and/or non-pharmaceutical treatment for
ADHD, people with the disorder will be able to receive the best knowledge as to what treatment
would most improve the condition of their health. By effective, it is meant that the treatment is,
for the most part, permanent with no harmful side effects and that the treatment actually tackles
the symptoms of ADHD with enough strength to not have the treatment be of slow and gradual
improvement.
In conclusion, the results of this experiment indicate that the hypothesis, if a literature
review studies the effectiveness of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments for ADHD
sufferers, then using non-pharmaceutical treatments in conjunction with low doses of
pharmaceutical treatments would be most effective, was not supported in a statistically
significant manner. After chi-squared tests were performed, it was seen that the null hypothesis
was not rejected for the comparison of pharmaceutical treatments and non-pharmaceutical
treatments, nor was it rejected for pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments compared
individually to a combination treatment. Further research is needed and the results of this
investigation indicate that there is great potential for improved outcomes for people living with
ADHD as new treatments options are developed and studied.
