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Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with ADHD: Results from the 2012 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey
The aim of this 2020 article was to find out and present the prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with the use of complementary alternative medicine in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The data was obtained from the 2012 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey, a survey conducted in the United States. While ~8.4% of U.S. children had ADHD in 2017, nearly all these kids (91.9%) had comorbid psychiatric disorders and were more likely to use complementary alternative medicine (CAM) than individuals without comorbidities. Moreover, greater CAM use was found in kids with ADHD than those without. Commonly used mind-body CAM modalities included meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. The use of these specific therapies increased by 468 %, 433 %, and 192 %, respectively, since 2012. Less than a third of the respondents revealed to their doctors about their CAM use. In general, there was no correlation between CAM use and the use of conventional medical care among this sample of ADHD children, but there was one significant inverse relationship identified. Increased CAM use was linked with less usage of prescription medication for longer than three months. To summarize the results, the use of mind-body CAM modalities has risen substantially among children with ADHD (compared to those without ADHD) from 2012 to 2017. Parents used CAM in their kids with ADHD because of its potentially unique way of reducing symptoms and their lack of undesirable side effects. This paper emphasizes the importance of effective communication between the healthcare providers and the ADHD patients and their parents. It is imperative to understand the patients’ opinions and preferences for using CAM therapies to treat ADHD. [NPID: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, CAM, complementary medicine, alternative medicine, alternative, national, US, United States, America, Americans, physician]
Year: 2020
