Program for ADHD and Related Conditions (PARC)

• Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).
• There are three subtypes, defined by the number of different types of symptoms present:
  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
  • Predominantly inattentive
  • Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive

There are several treatment options available for individuals diagnosed with ADHD depending on areas of impairment. If you need help sustaining attention or managing hyperactivity, pharmacotherapy (medication) may be appropriate. Non-medication alternative for children and adults with ADHD are currently being explored at UCLA. If you struggle with using your executive functions such as planning, getting started on tasks, organizing your space, breaking tasks down, etc, then executive function intervention is an option. To help children manage their behaviors, we also frequently recommend parent training. 

If you would like to hear more about the treatment options available at UCLA, please call (310)267-4798 or email adhdandmood@ucla.edu

Irritability is defined as a feeling of agitation and excessive response to stimuli. Irritability is a symptom that presents itself in many different disorders, including Anxiety, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Depression, and Severe Mood Dysregulation.

Irritability has received much attention in recent years from academia and public media (LA Times). Practicing clinicians frequently discuss the difficulty in treating children who experience significant irritability and parents report struggling with their child’s difficult behavior and the effect on family well-being. 

Chronic irritability often affects children with anxiety, depression, ODD, and severe mood dysregulation. Irritability is a symptom of approximately 61% of children with depression, and is associated with greater risk of concurrent disruptive behaviors (including oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder) (Stringaris et al., 2013).  Moreover, approximately 50% of adults with major depressive disorder experience significant irritability that is associated with greater depressive severity, longer major depressive episodes, and poorer impulse control among other negative long-term outcomes (Judd et al., 2013). The consequences of severe irritability are also not limited to depression. Irritability in oppositional defiant disorder in childhood is also associated with more negative long-term outcomes.

As a clinical research group, we aim to explore treatment options for children with irritability and comorbid conditions. Currently, we are conducting a clinical trial to treat severe mood dysregulation in children and adolescents. 

ODD is characterized by an ongoing pattern of anger-guided disobedience, and excessively defiant and hostile behavior towards authority that persists for at least 6 months. There is a frequent occurrence of 4 of the following behaviors: losing temper, arguing with adults, actively defying or refusing to comply with the requests or rules of adults, deliberately doing things to annoy other people, blaming others for his or her own mistakes, being touchy or easily annoyed by others, being angry or resentful, or being spiteful or vindictive.

To meet diagnosis criteria, the behaviors must occur more frequently than is typically observed in individuals of comparable developmental level, and lead to significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.

ODD and ADHD often co-occur. 

Treatment Options for ODD

We recommend parent training for parents of children with ODD. Implementing limit setting, AM and PM routines, and effective commands are essential for behavior modification and can be learned through participation in the UCLA Parenting Program. 

Conduct Disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents. Individuals with a conduct disorder have excessive difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. They tend to be impulsive, hard to control, and not concerned about the feelings of other people. Individuals with a conduct disorder have a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviors that fall into four major groupings, including: aggression to people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, and serious violation of rules.  

It is common for children with a conduct disorder to have coexisting conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, ADHD, or learning problems.

Treatment Options for Conduct Disorder

We recommend parent training and problem-solving skills training for children diagnosed with conduct disorder. Implementing limit setting, AM and PM routines, and effective commands are essential for behavior modification and can be learned through participation in the UCLA Parenting Program. UCLA does not currently offer a specific problem-solving skills training program for children, but many therapists use these techniques in their practices. 

• Services Provided:
• Comprehensive evaluations for
  • ADD / ADHD
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
• Parent Training / Behavior Management
• Social Skills Training
• Medication Intervention