A 12-year-old boy is brought by his mother to your clinic with a history of...

Management of ADHD requires ongoing reassessment using standardized rating scales from multiple informants (e.g., parents and teachers) to evaluate symptom control and functional impairment across settings. This child demonstrates persistent school-related symptoms despite prior response to immediate-release methylphenidate. Before adjusting therapy, it is essential to objectively reassess symptom severity, adherence, timing of doses relative to school hours, and potential environmental factors. Completion of validated rating scales helps determine whether symptoms remain clinically significant and guides appropriate dose titration. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate are first-line treatment, and inadequate response often requires dose optimization before switching agents. Simply increasing the dose without reassessment is not best practice. Risperidone is not indicated for uncomplicated ADHD. An EEG is unnecessary unless there are seizure concerns. Switching to atomoxetine is premature without confirming inadequate response to optimized stimulant therapy. MCCQE objectives emphasize systematic monitoring, multi-informant assessment, dose titration, and evidence-based pharmacologic management in pediatric ADHD.