Matheus Almeida Ribeiro da Cunha
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João Gustavo dos Anjos Morais Oliveira
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Gabriela Sarno Brandão
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Ana Flávia Paiva Bandeira Assis
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Leonardo Mattos Santos
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Background: Though pharmacotherapy of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is widespread, some patients suffer with side effects or do not improve with it. Objectives: Evaluate clinical outcomes of non-pharmacological therapy on ADHD. Design and Setting: This is a literature review, produced in Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health. Methods: Articles published between 2011 and 2021 were taken from PubMed, using the following search: (“Non-pharmacological treatment” OR “Non- pharmacological therapy” OR “Non-pharmacological intervention” OR “Non-drug treatment” OR “Non-drug therapy” OR “Adjuvant treatment” OR “Adjuvant therapy”) AND (“ADHD” OR “Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder”). Studies that did not match this review’s objectives were excluded. Results: 20 of the 57 articles found, were selected. Reviews that approach treatment in general indicate non-pharmacological therapy specially when there are obstacles to use of drugs, but highlight the lack of studies with methodological quality in this field. Clinical studies indicate reduction of symptoms through neurofeedback, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and aerobic exercises. One of the interventions with the most articles was nutritional supplementation, though most of them did not find significant improvement. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological treatment of ADHD is a relevant alternative, especially when there is no response to medication, but studies with better methodological quality are necessary.
Clinical effects of nonpharmacological treatment of ADHD
