ADHD with Comorbid Disorders: Clinical Assessment and Management

Treating a child or adolescent with ADHD is especially challenging when hyperactivity and inattention are accompanied by many other symptoms. It is not uncommon to encounter such complex ADHD cases as the child who also presents with aggression or antisocial behavior, the teen who has made a suicide attempt, or the hyperactive child with mental retardation. Integrating the latest biomedical and psychosocial knowledge, this practice-oriented volume is designed to help clinicians meet the needs of these tough-to-treat clients. The authors review the evaluation and treatment of ADHD with major comorbidities including mood and anxiety disorders, conduct disorders, learning disorders, medical illnesses, and severe developmental disorders. Distinguishing clinical features of each condition are delineated, current psychopharmacological treatments are described, and effective approaches are presented for managing behavioral problems in the home, school, and playground. Filled with illustrative case examples that reflect the authors' extensive clinical experience, the book provides thoughtful coverage of knotty diagnostic and treatment issues.

Steven R. Pliszka, MD, is Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Physician Scientist Award, he conducts research in the areas of psychopharmacology and the comorbidity of psychiatric disorder with ADHD.

Caryn L. Carlson, PhD, is Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her doctorate in psychology from the University of Georgia and completed her postdoctoral training at Indiana University. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, and she has published widely on the assessment and treatment of children with ADHD.

James M. Swanson, PhD, is Professor of Pediatrics and Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. In 1983, Dr. Swanson founded the UCI Child Development Center, which offers specialty programs for children with ADHD and also conducts research in this area. His work with children with ADHD has been supported by an array of leading foundations as well as the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Child Health and Development.