All medications have potential negative side effects, in addition to their primary positive effects. Physicians hope that the primary effects will be what their patients experience as opposed to the side effects. Ideally, the physician and patient determine together that the potential benefit is worth the very real risk that the side effect may pose (Doweiko, 2009).
According to the American Psychological Association, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) effects up to 7% of the population (as cited by Bruchmüller, Margraf, & Schneider, 2012). Although often thought of as a childhood issue, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that over the course of a year, physicians will diagnosis approximately 4.1% of adults with ADHD (NIMH, 2012).
A second emotional issue, depression, affects approximately 10% of the American population over the course of their lives (Goldberg, 2010). According to NIMH, physicians will annually diagnose approximately 6.7% of the adult population of the United States as suffering from depression (NIMH, 2012).
Therefore, these two emotional issues have the potential to negatively influence well over 10% of the American population each year. The key issue then becomes whether or not the treatment for ADHD and depression gives the desired relief.
The Appropriateness of the Drugs to Treat the Diagnosis
A modern opportunity for caregivers is the growing realization that alternate treatment options may be more effective than medication in the care of patients dealing with ADHD and depression. This becomes even more significant when caregivers consider the differences for treatment needs depending on the age of the patient (Benkert, Krause, Wasem, & Aidelsburger, 2010).
Research has discovered that those with ADHD as a child have a tendency to continue that struggle in adulthood, which can lead to depression and other mental health issues (Hinshaw, Owens, Zalecki, Huggins, Montenegro-Nevado, Schrodek, & Swanson, 2012). Physicians must work closely with their maturing patients in order to determine when a change in treatment plan may be necessary.
Recently published studies bring some encouraging guidance for physicians. In these studies, the researchers discovered that physicians could avoid the potential suicide risk related to medication for depression by recommending different therapy and complementary and alternative medicine instead (Soeteman, Miller, & Kim, 2012).
As previously noted here and in other posts, a wide variety of complementary and alternative medicine treatments have been demonstrated effective when dealing with depression, and can even be applied to ADHD, especially in adults (Freeman, 2009).
Appropriate medication may be part of the overall treatment plan for a patient, but a caregiver coming from the biopsychosocial model will try to understand when that medication is necessary, while applying the other aspects of treatment equally. Medication may not be necessary at all, if all of the involved parties are willing to consider some of the complementary and alternative options for ADHD and depression treatment.
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