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The Center for the Management of ADHD’s guidelines
The Center for Management of ADHD focuses on identifying and treating children (ages 3 to 18 years) with complex ADHD mainly through non-testing diagnostic assessment and medication management consultation with more limited availability for follow-up care in the form of behavioral interventions and psychoeducational testing. Complex ADHD for school aged children (ages 6 to 18 years) includes the following:
- ADHD with co-existing moderate to severe anxiety and depression
- ADHD with symptoms of autism spectrum disorders
- Academic problems that may require learning support
- ADHD with co-existing medical conditions
- Patients with a trauma history
- Significant family conflict and/or family disagreement about diagnosis/treatment plan
- Patients who have had an insufficient response to first line interventions
Treatment for preschool aged children (ages 3 to 5 years) will be scheduled in accordance with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics guidelines.
These guidelines were developed in consideration of the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of ADHD.
CHOP OPEN: Online webinars and lectures
Did you know CHOP OPEN (Online Pediatric Education Network) has more than 1,000 recorded sessions covering all aspects of pediatric care?
Highlighted courses include:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (#1)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (#2)
- ADHD 2.0: Pediatricians Roles in Managing ADHD for Children and Adolescents
- ADHD in Primary Care: An Overview of Family Information in Understanding, Monitoring, and Supporting Children Diagnosed with ADHD
View all available developmental and behavioral pediatric courses here.
Clinical guidelines from professional organizations
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Guidelines
- Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP)
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
Consultation resources
In Pennsylvania, Pediatricians who care for patients covered by HealthChoices can have access to a timely behavioral health consultation and care coordination through the Telephonic Psychiatric Consultation Service Program (TiPS). HealthChoices is Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Program. Learn more about TiPS here.
In New Jersey, New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC) helps primary care physicians and pediatricians in a collaborative care model that includes primary care provider education, timely access to psychiatric consultation, and appropriate referral and care coordination. Learn more about the NJPPC here.
Assessment resources
To collect data on a patient’s ADHD symptoms in the home and school setting, clinicians are encouraged to use symptom rating scales such as the Vanderbilt Diagnostic Rating Scale. This scale is a free resource and can be used to aid initial diagnosis as well as monitor response to intervention. Copies of the rating scale and scoring instructions can be located below:
- Vanderbilt Assessment
- Vanderbilt Scoring Guide
Resources for your patients
The Center for Management of ADHD has complied resources for parents and caregivers of children with ADHD. We encourage you to share the resources with your patients.
Presentations: Intervention for executive and social functioning in children and teens with ADHD
Use the following link to access 1 hour interactive films and additional written material that describe what can be done to help children and teens with ADHD who have executive functioning challenges or social functioning challenges. There are 2 films on each topic. One set is meant for parents and caregivers focusing on what can be done at home, and one set is meant for teachers and counselors focusing on what can be done in school or in therapy. Please feel free to share this link with other parents or your child’s teachers, counselors, etc.
Additional videos and resources
Through The PASS Study (Partnering to Achieve School Success) a video series and resources were compiled for parents, caregivers, educators, and clinicians to learn more about ADHD and different evidence-based ways to support children with ADHD.
Changes to the center and its waitlist
Effective July 1, 2023, CHOP’s ADHD Center will transition to a first call scheduling model and will no longer maintain a patient wait list. However, appointment availability remains limited, and patients are not guaranteed an appointment when they call. Learn what this means for referrals and your patients.