In this issue

Registration is Open!

Are you a professional interested in ADHD?

Join us in Montréal for our annual national meeting focused on ADHD, the only one of its kind in Canada!

Hotel and Travel

Call for Board Nominations 2023

You are invited to nominate or self-nominate for a CADDRA board position. Prior participation on a CADDRA committee is a pre-requisite.

Voting will be held at this year's annual general meeting. 

Nominations must be received no later than midnight ET, Friday, July 21, 2023 to be valid.

Highlighted Abstract

Members of CADDRA's Advisory Council will select a monthly abstract based on its clinical relevance. The commentary reflects the reviewer’s own opinion and is not approved, or necessarily representative, of the opinion of the CADDRA board. This month’s abstract was selected by Advisory Council chair, Dr Doron Almagor.

Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial Testing the Efficacy of fMRI Neurofeedback on Clinical and Cognitive Measures in Children With ADHD

Sheut-Ling Lam et al.

Commentary by Dr. Doron Almagor: This is a well-conducted randomized sham-controlled trial that used functional MRI neurofeedback (fMRI-NF) to assess its potential effectiveness in children with ADHD. The study aimed to control brain activity in the right inferior frontal cortex (rIFC) using fMRI-assessed blood-oxygen-level-dependent responses. However, the study failed to demonstrate significant differences between active and sham neurofeedback, suggesting that the benefits of neurofeedback may be due to nonspecific factors rather than a specific treatment effect. Despite many hopes, and years of research, well-controlled studies have failed to show any benefit for neurofeedback, even when using advanced technologies such as functional MRI. The dearth of evidence supporting the efficacy of neurofeedback raises significant concerns regarding its appropriateness for clinicians to administer or endorse. Given the substantial long-term implications associated with ADHD and the ample data supporting conventional treatment modalities, opting for an unverified therapy rather than effective interventions appears contrary to the best interests of patients. While ongoing advancements in more efficacious approaches to managing ADHD are imperative, it appears that neurofeedback as a treatment for ADHD is no longer tenable.

* Doron Almagor MD, FRCPC is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist and Director of the Possibilities Clinic, headquartered in Toronto.

New CADDRA Employee

Welcome to our Newest Staff Member!

Lindsay Nix is a dedicated information professional who is passionate about coordinating and organizing health-based projects and programs. She brings experience in knowledge translation, working with a range of stakeholders, and ensuring individuals with lived experience are included in educational content and programs she helps create, particularly with CADDRA’s ADHD and Substance Use Project (CASUP). She will be connecting with stakeholders to ensure their knowledge and lived experience are translated into the course content, assisting with program evaluation, and working with the content development team to get the course content online.

Advocacy Updates

CADDRA and CADDAC met with the following to discuss the need for resources for ADHD assessment and treatment and to encourage support for the Action Plan, Bill C-329: National Framework on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Act, and to request that provinces earmark federal funds for ADHD. Meetings were attended by Dr. Joan Flood (CADDRA Advocacy Chair), Niamh McGarry (CADDRA Executive Director), and Juanita Beaudry (CADDAC Executive Director).

Mr. Eric Bélair

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister

Strategic Policy Branch of Health Canada

Honourable Brian Comer

Minister Responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health

Nova Scotia

Ms. Cheryl Chorneyko RPN,M.Ed

Mental Health Consultant

Student Services Unit 

Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning

Member Discussions Forum

What do you think? Share your viewpoint or contribute to the following conversation on CADDRA's member-only discussion forum:

Child Diagnosis and gender bias

The child is 8 years old, a family history of ADHD. An initial assessment for ADHD and diagnosis with the transitional disorder with an invitation to re-assess for ADHD due to gendered biases in formal assessment. The transitional disorder was considered resolved with counselling and contextual changes. A follow-up referral for re-assessment for ADHD is being requested due to the increasing use of coping strategies. How can parents communicate symptoms and coping in a way that will be heard and reflective of female gender and cultural biases? Particularly how much weight should the teacher report carry (problematic functioning across domains) and should a second opinion from another Dr. be requested?

Upcoming Events

CADDRA Exhibits

Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO)

September 23, 2023

Toronto, ON

Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference

October 19-21

Vancouver, BC

Family Medicine Forum (FMF)

November 8-10, 2023

Montréal, QC

Welcome New Members & Affiliates!

Fireside Chat Recording Now Available

ADHD and ASD: Similarities, Differences, Next Directions

Thank you to Dr. Scott McLeod and Dr. Kyle Sue!

_______________________

Log on to ADHDLearn.

Fireside Chats can be found under Member Only Education Sessions.

Recorded June 1, edited for viewing.

ADHD Research Digest, Issue 8 - Available July 5

Send your contributions for consideration to stacey.espinet@caddra.ca.

Find previous issues HERE.

Talk Tuesdays with CADDRA Staff

Do you have questions about your membership benefits? How about ADHD TrEAT and ADHDLearn? Need some guidance to update your online profile? Just want to touch base “face to face”? You're also welcome to just drop in to say hello.

We’ve put aside an hour on the first Tuesday of each month exclusively for members. CADDRA’s team will happily field all your inquiries.

Join us on ZOOM, Tuesday, July 3 from 12-1 pm ET for our next meeting.

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Available on ADHDLearn

Members always have access to the following for free or at a reduced rate:

• The CADDRA Introduction to ADHD for Healthcare Professionals (accredited program, free for members). Available in English and French.
• CADDRA Expert Series 2023 (accredited program, reduced fee for members)
• ADHD in Practice (free accredited program)
• Fireside Chat recordings (access for members only)
• The Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines (free access for members)
• Member Only Forums
• Research Day Posters