Another approach to ADHD

The drug guanfacine can treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without worsening tics, Yale investigators have found. Stimulants are first-round agents for ADHD, but may worsen tics in some cases. “Guanfacine,” said first author Lawrence Scahill, M.S.N., M.P.H. ’89, Ph.D. ’97, associate professor in the Child Study Center and at the School of Nursing, “appears to be a safe and effective treatment for children with tic disorders and ADHD.” For the study, published in the July issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry, the researchers followed 34 children diagnosed with ADHD and a tic disorder. Guanfacine was associated with improvement on the teacher-rated ADHD Rating Scale, fewer tics and better performance on laboratory tests of attention and impulse control.