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Would you consider starting a stimulant in an inpatient or crisis setting for patients whose severe behavioral issues are due to untreated ADHD?

5 Answers
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Psychiatry · Private Practice
Answered on

For an adult without an established diagnosis, I don't believe initiating stimulant therapy during an acute inpatient stay is appropriate. ADHD is a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition, but it shouldn't be used as a catch-all explanation for behavioral disruptions in a hospital setting. Starting...

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Psychiatry · Duke University
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The decision to initiate a stimulant medication during an inpatient psychiatric admission is inherently complex. For the purposes of this discussion, I will assume the patient is a child or adolescent, recognizing that stimulants may be started for conditions other than ADHD. Even so, examining the ...

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Psychiatry · The University of New Mexico
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In an inpatient setting, if the medication seems like an appropriate fit (from a medical/cardiac and substance use) concern, I start them as part of our approach and to be able to monitor tolerance and benefit.

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Psychiatry · RK Psychiatry Associates, LLC
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A crisis or inpatient setting can actually be an excellent time to consider initiating a stimulant when severe behavioral dysregulation appears to stem from untreated ADHD. In a contained, highly supervised environment, you can directly observe the patient’s behavior, rule out confounding factors su...

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Psychiatry · Childrens Hospital Colorado
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For a person in an inpatient, yes. But not in a crisis setting. I would require a follow-up that can't be guaranteed.

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