Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management

The new NICE guideline on the diagnosis and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, young people and adults1 extensively updates its 2008 document2 and its 2006 recommendations for treatment with methylphenidate, atomoxetine and dexamfetamine in children and adolescents.3 It is supported by a revised quality standard,4 in which the chief amendment to the original 2013 standard (QS39) is the removal of the quality statement that ‘Children and young people with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are offered a referral to a psychological group treatment programme’. A different psychological approach is now recommended.