Background:
Fasting in Ramadan, a holy month in Islam, is considered a
religious obligation to Muslims after puberty. Fasting during Ramadan entails
abstinence from consuming food and liquids, as well as abstaining from other
activities, including smoking and sexual activity, from dawn until sunset. Literature
exists regarding the management of multiple medical conditions impacted by the
month of fasting; however, limited literature exists to guide the management of
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) during Ramadan.
Methods:
This systematic review employed a PUBMED search which was
conducted using keywords ((ADHD) AND (Muslims)) OR ((ADHD) AND
(FASTING)) OR ((ADHD) AND (RAMADAN)) OR ((RAMADAN) AND
(MANAGEMENT)) and search strategies to find existing literature on ADHD
management during Ramadan or while fasting.
Results:
Eight hundred and sixty-one results were obtained. Of these, full texts of
clinical trials, systematic reviews, reviews, randomized control trials, and metaanalyses
resulted in 303 results that were screened by title or abstract for relevance to
the topic. The duplicate articles were removed. Eighty-nine results were incorporated
into this paper, including full articles, book excerpts, and online articles.
Discussion:
Muslim adolescents may face challenges with academic and social
functioning as they navigate psychosocial changes in the context of Ramadan.
ADHD management options should be discussed with individuals who are planning
to fast. Pharmacologic management options include continuing on the current
regimen, dose adjustment to mitigate side effect exacerbation, a change in medication
class, or a change in medication formulation. For severe cases or cases with comorbid
conditions, continued fasting may not be recommended. In these cases, the patient
should attempt to seek counsel with their community’s religious scholar in
collaboration with their medication provider. Ultimately, there are limitations in the
available data, and there is a need for further investigation into the impacts of fasting
during Ramadan on individuals with ADHD and the effectiveness of interventions to
promote treatment adherence.