title: The Texas Children's Medication Algorithm Project: Report of the Texas Consensus Conference Panel on Medication Treatment of Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Part I. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Expert consensus methodology was used to develop evidence-based, consensually agreed-upon medication treatment algorithms for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the public mental health sector. Although treatment algorithms for adult mental disorders have been developed, this represents one of the first attempts to develop similar algorithms for childhood mental disorders. Although these algorithms were developed initially for the public sector, the goals of this approach are to increase the uniformity of treatment and improve the clinical outcomes of children and adolescents with ADHD in a variety of treatment settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consensus conference of academic clinicians and researchers, practicing clinicians, administrators, consumers, and families was convened to develop evidence-based consensus algorithms for the pharmacotherapy of childhood ADHD. After a series of presentations of current research evidence and panel discussion, the consensus panel met and drafted the algorithms along with guidelines for implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The panel developed consensually agreed-upon algorithms for ADHD with and without specific comorbid disorders. The algorithms consist of systematic strategies for psychopharmacological interventions and tactics to ensure successful implementation of the strategies. While the algorithms focused on the medication management of ADHD, the conference emphasized that psychosocial treatments are often a critical component of the overall management of ADHD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication algorithms for ADHD can be developed with consensus. A companion article will discuss the implementation of these algorithms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA. Pliszka@uthsscsa.edu
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pliszka
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Greenhill
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Crismon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sedillo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Conners
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Llana
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Toprac
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000465:Algorithms; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants