The use of alternative therapies in treating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ADHD is a common and complex disorder for which no specific neuroanatomical, physiological, biochemical or psychological origin has been identified. Despite the effectiveness and relative safety of stimulant medications, many parents are concerned about giving their child a psychoactive, ‘mind-altering’ medication for what is likely to be a long period of time. As with many chronic diseases of childhood, parents have turned to complementary and alternative medicine [1]. There is a plethora of information on alternative therapies for ADHD in the mainstream media and on the Internet. Evidence-based reports were identified from the MEDLINE database and references of review articles published in peerreviewed literature (Table 1).