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Foreword

From The Chairs

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands for which this guideline is developed, and pay our respects to all elders, past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge the need to live in an undivided Australia, where all people are equal and have access to all they need to thrive.

We hope the language we have used throughout does not offend. Our identification of any specific groups within Australia is only intended to ensure there is awareness of a need for special considerations in care, which we hope will be to the advantage of individuals.

This Australian evidence-based clinical practice guideline is the first produced by the Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA). The Guideline provides people with ADHD, their families and carers, health practitioners, educators, policymakers, researchers and communities with 111 recommendations specifically tailored to the Australian context.

Professor Katrina Williams

Prof. Katrina Williams

Dr Edward Petch

Dr Edward Petch

The Guideline was developed in accordance with NHMRC standards for clinical practice guidelines. The Guideline Development Group (GDG) comprised a broad range of people with experience of ADHD, including those with ADHD, family members, community members, professional groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and health professionals. All GDG members had no identified or undeclared conflicts of interest.

Development of this guideline was funded by AADPA using grant funds from the Australian Department of Health. As well as being a GDG member, Professor Mark Bellgrove, President of AADPA, led meeting organisation and coordination of the methodology, administration and report development. Funding was used to employ Dr Marie Misso as lead guideline methodologist, Ms Robyn Scarfe to assist with secretariat support, Dr Nicole Stefanac to assist with document editing, Ms Kim Fuller to develop the online consultation process and assist with document preparation, and Dr Tamara May, also a GDG member, to provide meeting coordination and report writing and management.

The guidance on how to respond to the needs and preferences of people living with ADHD is based on the highest quality scientific evidence available, which was systematically reviewed. Where insufficient evidence was available, recommendations reflect the majority views of the GDG. The GDG developed the recommendations independently through a structured consensus process, with no involvement of the influence of the funding body and other stakeholder interests.

We are indebted to the funders of this guideline, to the NHMRC for providing a rigorous guideline development framework, to those organisations who have provided representatives or endorsement, to AADPA and its president, and to all the supporting staff, in particular, Drs Tamara May and Marie Misso, who worked unsociable hours to ensure evidence and guideline readiness at each stage. We also gratefully acknowledge the extensive input from members of the GDG who donated their time, and to all those who provided feedback, support and advice.

That this guideline has been developed during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the attendant difficulties in scheduling and meeting with people from all Australian states and territories, is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the GDG members.

It is our hope that this guideline will be of value to all those living with ADHD.
Dr Edward Petch & Prof Katrina Williams