Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

Education Online Courses Continuing Education Credits Pediatric Neurology

Integrative Pediatric Neurology: ADHD & Autism (2023-2025)

The prevalence of ADHD and autism have skyrocketed over the past couple decades. In 2016, an estimated 6.1 million children in the United States were diagnosed with ADHD, a prevalence of 9.46%. 3.8 million of these children were taking a stimulant medication such as Ritalin (CDC, 2018). This is up from 150,000 in 1970 and less than a million as recently as 1990. There is no biological explanation for such variation, indicating the very powerful effect of socioeconomic, political, educational, or other factors in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

Families who are apprehensive about the side effects of medications for pediatric neurological disorders are turning to integrative medicine for options. Children with ADHD or autism can respond well to personalized care that emphasizes diet, nutrients, gut health, and environmental factors. This course emphasizes the need for health professionals who treat ADHD to become familiar with the various integrative treatments which are available and to be able to counsel parents effectively concerning these treatments. Pediatric providers will benefit from exploring evidence-based integrative options to complement pharmacologic and cognitive behavioral treatments.

Course objectives:

• Describe the risk and benefits of integrative approaches (including elimination diet, dietary supplement use, and lifestyle interventions) to address ADHD and differentiate ADHD from other psychosocial, psychological and neurocognitive conditions.
• Counsel families regarding best approaches to diagnose ADHD, and how to implement appropriate integrative approaches with children who have an ADHD diagnosis.
• Describe the risks and benefits of integrative approaches to Autism and counsel patients and their families on how to implement appropriate integrative approaches.

Completion Requirements

Complete all the course work, course evaluation, and the final test with a score of 70% or better. Upon successful completion you will be able to print your certificate of completion.

Curriculum

1. Introduction to ADHD - Discussion of ADHD diagnosis, neurobiology and increase in the diagnosis of ADHD.
2. Treatment Approaches to ADHD - Conventional and Integrative treatments for ADHD are reviewed.
3. The Integrative Approach to Autism - Discussion of increase in diagnosis, environmental exposures as possible causes and conventional and integrative treatments.
4. Exam
5. Evaluation

Target Audience

Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses.

Enrollment

You can register and start immediately. If you register for the course and pay with a credit card you will have immediate access to the course. Once your registration is complete, logout and log back in and your course will be listed on the campus page. If you cannot remember your account information, click the Forgot Password link on the login page and it will be emailed to you.