May We Introduce You To: CHADD’s Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult ADHD Project Committee (DaTAA Project Committee)
by Lee Gehrls, R&D Coordinator (Volunteer)
Reading Time: 3 Minutes
Many of us are waiting for the publication of the first US Adult ADHD Guidelines, which were expected to be released in 2025. Writing and reviewing medical or mental health guidelines for any condition or disorder is a gigantic task that requires the cooperation of many specialists, researchers, and special boards and organizations. Then all guidelines go through a peer review process and usually include time for public comment. It is a process that cannot be rushed. So it is understandable that 2025 came and went, and we are still waiting patiently and hoping 2026 will be the year for the new guidelines. What we can do with this time is go through a short review on why the guidelines are needed, what CHADD’s role will be in the development of the guidelines, and what we need to know.
Existing ADHD Guidelines
There are current US ADHD guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents. The groups involved in developing these guidelines were the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. These guidelines were published on September 1, 2019.
But all this time, there have been no US guidelines for diagnosing and treating adults with ADHD, even though there are numerous foreign countries that have established adult ADHD guidelines (France, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan, to name a few).
The DaTAA Project Committee
APSARD (American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders) took on the task of writing and completing the reviews in 2023. The other component of the guideline publication is how you will educate all healthcare and mental health care providers about the guidelines. This is where CHADD stepped up and formed a partnership with APSARD to take on this task. CHADD formed the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult ADHD Project Committee (DaTAA Project Committee). Working with APSARD and following the progress of the guidelines, CHADD will distribute them and develop training, resources, and educational toolkits for all providers in the US who work in the field of ADHD. The new guidelines will be sent to all physicians and mental health care providers, not just specialists.
The Importance of Adult ADHD Guidelines
New guidelines will ensure that people receive standardized care in the United States from trained professionals. The guidelines could also increase and improve the ADHD training in university medical schools and psychology departments, improve the understanding of politicians on the needs of adults with ADHD, and perhaps improve insurance coverage.
Lastly, we will all need to study the new guidelines to understand the level of care adults with ADHD should expect at appointments. The guidelines can help us become better communicators with our ADHD management team and stronger advocates. We also have to remember that they will evolve as more research and treatment options become available. And parents will need to educate their teens so when they graduate and move into adulthood, they are prepared and know how to make the guidelines work for them. The new Adult ADHD Guidelines will be a positive step in our ongoing lifelong ADHD learning.
Making the right connections can make all the difference.sm
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