Below is a copy of our ADHD diet eating program for ADD ADHD kids. It is not a very strict program, like the Feingold diet, unless you are used to having most meals at your local fast food restaurant.

This program is recommended for every member of the family. It's not just an "ADD diet". It's the same program that we put professional athletes and business executives on for optimized performance, with only minor changes.

We have found that it really helps about 20% to 25% of the ADHD kids that try it.

The most common feedback that we get from parents is, "Well, it helped my kid somewhat, but I really feel great!"

Results fall into a "Bell Curve." A few do great, a few are completely unaffected, and most do somewhat better but it is not enough as a stand-alone intervention.

Please have realistic expectations. But please try it. It just may be a big help to your family.

Press Release: June 4, 2007

NIMH recently approved funding to test the effectiveness of an early intervention in children at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. Though early in the research process, the long-term goal of this study is to reduce or delay the development of bipolar disorder in at-risk youth, heading off the effects of the disorder before it disrupts healthy development and functioning.

Family-focused therapy (FFT) involves teaching patients and their families about bipolar disorder and disease management, improving communication skills, and developing problem-solving skills. Past research has shown that FFT, when used with medication treatment, can help prevent recurrences and reduce symptoms in adults and teenagers diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The recently approved study aims to develop FFT for children, ages 9-17, at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. High risk indicates children who have some symptoms of bipolar disorder, but do not show all the symptoms required for a formal diagnosis, and have an immediate family member with bipolar disorder. Twelve children will participate in this phase of the study.

More teenagers are taking prescriptions medications for ADHD, and for other medical conditions, than ever before, and the sharpest increase is with teenage girls. This is according to a five year study of prescription drug claims by Medco Health Solutions, a company that manages various pharmacy benefits programs.

The increase in prescription drug use may be seen as either good news or bad news.

Either it means that teenagers are benefiting from better health care and better diagnostic evaluations for conditions that would have been overlooked in the past, or that teenagers are suffering more physical and psychological problems than ever before.

For example, the biggest increase in drug claims was for girls taking medication for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was once considered "adult" diabetes, but is now more commonly seen in children and teenagers as childhood obesity increases. From 2001 to 2006 the number of girls taking medications for this condition increased by 167%. For boys the increase over the same period was 33%.