St. John's Wort Does Not Help Kids With ADHD, Says Study

More About ADHD

ADHD can affect how kids interact and function socially, academically, and at home. And children and teens with the condition also may have other problems (like depression, anxiety, or learning disorders) that require treatment, too. Plus, they may be at greater risk for smoking and drug use, especially if the ADHD isn't treated consistently — or at all. That's why catching the condition and treating it as soon as possible is so crucial.

Because ADHD is a broad category covering different types of symptoms — attention, activity, and impulsivity — it can show up in different ways in different people (both children and adults).

Some kids with ADHD have trouble:

• paying attention or staying focused on a task or activity
• engaging in activities quietly
• finishing assignments at school or home
• focusing on instructions and following through
• paying close attention to details or making careless mistakes
• organizing tasks and activities
• waiting their turn

Children with ADHD may also:

• jump from one activity to another
• lose or forget things (such as homework)
• become easily distracted, even when doing something fun
• interrupt or intrude on other people
• blurt out answers before questions have been completed
• fidget with their hands or feet or squirm around when sitting
• feel restless
• talk excessively

Of course, all kids (especially younger ones) act like this sometimes, especially when they're tired, anxious, or excited. But the difference is that ADHD symptoms are present over a longer period of time and regularly happen in different settings.

What This Means to You

Supplements and herbal remedies, like St. John's wort, aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as drugs; they're classified as foods. That means they aren't tested and monitored like other medications for safety and effectiveness (especially in kids).

Make sure to talk to your doctor before giving your child any type of alternative medicine. And don't delay or stop any traditional medical treatment in favor of an alternative therapy. Relying entirely on alternative therapies for any serious short- or long-term conditions can jeopardize kids' health.

If you think your child might have ADHD, schedule an evaluation with your doctor, who can try to get to the root of the problem, rule out other conditions, and possibly refer you to a mental health professional.

If ADHD is diagnosed, the doctor will work closely with you to create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your child's symptoms, circumstances, and medical history.

To help control ADHD symptoms and allow kids and teens with ADHD to concentrate, focus, and function better, an ADHD treatment plan may include not just medications but also behavioral therapy and making adjustments such as:

• reorganizing the home and school environment
• giving clear directions and commands
• responding appropriately to kids' most trying behaviors
• using calm discipline techniques
• helping kids develop problem-solving skills and learn how to cope with frustrations
• setting up a system of consistent rewards for appropriate behaviors and negative consequences for inappropriate ones

A recent study also suggested that — because sleep problems among kids with ADHD are so common and affect them (and their parents) so much — a primary part of the ADHD treatment plan should be modifying sleep habits, which can even lessen the need for drugs in some kids.

ADHD can't be cured with any kind of treatment, but it can be successfully managed. Getting kids with ADHD the help they need can help them learn to control their behavior and lead much more manageable, happy lives.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: June 2008

Source: "Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents," Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), June 11, 2008.