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The adherence to published guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by primary care pediatricians (PDs) andfamily practice physicians (FPs). particularly those in rural areas. has not been well documented. This study examined survey responsesfrom PDs and FPs who serve southern Appalachia (northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and Kentucky. and western North Carolina) regarding key practice parameters in line with the current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Results showed that both PDs and FPs reported adhering to most of the diagnosis and treatment guidelines. PDs were more likely than FPs to report using both parent and teacher input in diagnosis and reported prescribing different medications for ADHD to some degree. Both practice areas reported ongoing access to continuing medical education. which is a means to enhancing care of ADHD patients. Implications for primary care are given with attention to the limited availability of PDs in rural areas and future areas of research in rural mental healthcare are suggested.Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral health concern among children and adolescents, affecting 5-10% of the popUlation (National Institutes of Health [NIH], 1998; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2005). Its core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, and related features often include poor interpersonal relationships, conduct problems, and academic failure (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). It was once believed that children with ADHD "grew out" of the disorder as they approached adulthood; however, emerging data suggest that those with the diagnosis continue to struggle across 5 This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

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