Correlating family nurse practitioners' perspectives of adult ADD/ADHD with employed pharmacotherapy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores how family nurse practitioners (FNPs) in the state of Washington view adulthood attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and how these views affect the pharmacotherapy FNPs employ.


METHODS
A confidential survey containing 30 questions was mailed to self-selected FNPs who practice in the state of Washington (N= 126). Descriptive and Kendall's rank correlations coefficient statistical methods were used for data analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of respondents do not hold negative views toward adults with ADD/ADHD and are aware that their personal views may affect how they treat the disorder. Most of the respondents agreed that given the likelihood of co-morbidity of adult ADD/ADHD, it can be a challenge to diagnose the disorder. The predominant prescribed medications for adult ADD/ADHD are consistent with current pediatric guidelines, with the exception of buproprion, which was identified by 40% of the respondents as either their primary or secondary drug of choice for treating adult ADD/ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
Research effort needs to focus on the efficacy of buproprion for treating ADD/ADHD in adults. Moreover, exploration of the effectiveness of current pediatric guidelines to treat ADD/ADHD in adults must be assessed.
Martinson
Jennifer
J
College of Nursing, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, USA. jmartinson@gmail.com
Tang
Hsin-Yi Jean
HY
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate