Adult ADHD Treatment in New York City

Adult ADHD treatment is not one thing. For most adults it is a combination: medication when it is appropriate, practical skills or therapy, and changes at work or school that make the symptoms cost less. This page sets out what the research supports for adults, what the guidelines say as of October 2026, which parts Dr. Shershow provides and which parts come from elsewhere, and the New York City rules that make it easier to keep treatment going while you work.

What the evidence supports for adults

The largest comparison of ADHD medications, a 2018 network meta-analysis in The Lancet Psychiatry, found that in adults amphetamines, methylphenidate, bupropion and atomoxetine all beat placebo on clinicians' ratings at about 12 weeks, with amphetamines showing the largest effect. Taking efficacy and safety together, the authors concluded the evidence supports amphetamines as a preferred first choice for short-term treatment in adults. They also found less long-term data than they wanted: there was not enough to analyze 26-week and 52-week outcomes. That is one reason follow-up matters as much as the first prescription.

The therapy side has a similar honest limit. The Cochrane review's authors found "low-quality evidence" that cognitive behavioral treatments help adults with ADHD in the short term, with improvements in core symptoms that were fairly consistent, including in trials comparing CBT plus medication with medication alone. Low quality means future studies could change the estimate, not that CBT does not work. The research is summarized in what studies show about adult ADHD treatment, and the medication classes are compared in stimulant vs. non-stimulant ADHD medication.

Where the guidelines stand in October 2026

As of October 19, 2026, there is still no published US clinical practice guideline specific to adult ADHD. The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) announced on August 27, 2026 that its US adult ADHD guidelines had entered a final review stage, with publication anticipated this fall. Until it appears, clinicians lean on graded reviews like American Family Physician's and on guidelines from abroad, mainly England's NICE guideline NG87, which covers adults. If the APSARD guideline is published, expect it to shape how US clinicians describe first-line care. The background is in adult ADHD clinical guidelines.

What Dr. Shershow provides, and what comes from elsewhere

Dr. Shershow is a psychiatrist licensed in New York and New Jersey who focuses on adult ADHD. His part of treatment is the medical part:

• an evaluation that confirms or rules out ADHD and looks at anxiety, depression, sleep, substance use and stress, which can mimic ADHD or occur alongside it;
• a treatment plan that names the options that fit you, including non-medication options;
• medication management when medication is appropriate, including choosing, adjusting and monitoring it;
• ongoing psychiatric follow-up by secure video.

He does not provide therapy, CBT or coaching. If your plan includes them, you would see a separate therapist or coach, and many adults do both. Anxiety and depression are considered as part of the ADHD evaluation rather than treated here as standalone services. More about how this works is on the adult ADHD treatment page.

How follow-up works under New York rules

New York does not set a fixed visit schedule for ADHD treatment. Under 10 NYCRR 80.63(d), the prescriber decides how often to re-evaluate a patient on a controlled substance using generally accepted medical standards, taking into account the drug, the patient's condition and history. Several other rules shape the rhythm in practice:

• Schedule II stimulants cannot be refilled, so staying on one means regular contact with the prescriber.
• New York allows prescribing controlled substances through telehealth consistent with federal Drug Enforcement Administration rules (10 NYCRR 80.63(e)(4)). The current federal telemedicine flexibilities run through December 31, 2026, and what applies in 2027 had not been published as of October 2026.
• For a video visit with Dr. Shershow you must be physically in New York or New Jersey at the time. Being in New Jersey brings that state's in-person visit rules for stimulant patients into play; the office can explain how visits are arranged.

Early on, visits tend to be closer together while a medication is adjusted; later, once things are stable, they can space out. How often is a clinical decision, and how often ADHD follow-up visits happen in New York explains the factors. Prescription rules are covered on the ADHD medication management in NYC page.

New York City rules that help you keep appointments

Treatment fails most often for a simple reason: appointments get missed. Two city laws help.

Earned Safe and Sick Time Act. The city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection says most employees get up to 40 or 56 hours a year of paid protected time off (56 if the employer has 100 or more employees), plus 32 unpaid hours. It can be used for your own mental or physical illness, including getting a diagnosis, care or treatment, and for preventive care. An employer may ask for documentation only after more than three consecutive workdays off, and cannot require you or your clinician to disclose the nature of the condition.

New York City Human Rights Law. According to the NYC Commission on Human Rights, employers must provide reasonable accommodations, such as changes to schedules or duties, for people with a physical, medical, mental or psychological impairment unless doing so would cause undue hardship. A complaint to the Commission must be filed within one year of the last alleged act. What accommodations adults with ADHD commonly ask for is covered in ADHD workplace accommodations in New York.

If things get hard between visits

Starting or changing treatment can coincide with stressful stretches. NYC 988, run by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is a free, confidential mental health and substance use crisis line staffed 24 hours a day: call or text 988, or chat through the NYC 988 website. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Starting treatment

If you already have a diagnosis, bring the report and your pharmacy history to the first visit. If you do not, treatment starts with an evaluation. Either way, call the office or use the call-back form; staff can tell you the current fees, how insurance works with the practice and how the first visit is arranged.