Key Summary
- ADHD drugs linked to lower risks of suicide, substance misuse, accidents, and crime
- 57% received medication; most were prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin)
- Access to ADHD medicines remains limited, with long waits in the UK
The medication used to treat people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can provide many other benefits and help patients improve their quality of life, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common type of mental illness that affects nearly 5 per cent children and 2.5 per cent adults across the globe.
Symptoms can include difficulties concentrating and sitting still, having high energy levels and being impulsive.
The researchers from Southampton University and Karolinska Institute in Stockholm discovered that the drug treatment decreases unsafe tendencies like substance misuse, suicidal behaviour, transport accidents and criminality.
The commonly prescribed medication for the disorder are called stimulants.
This new finding about the drugs is a matter of debate now, as stimulants are known to cause side effects like headache, loss of appetite, troubled sleep, etc.
The research consisted of 148,500 people aged six to 64 with ADHD in Sweden.
While 57 percent began drug treatment, and 88 percent of them were prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin).
The study found that those who took medication had a reduced risk of first occurrence of suicidal behaviour, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, although there was no significant risk reduction for a first occurrence of accidental injury.
Among people with recurrent events, there was a significant reduction linked to all five outcomes.
The researchers claim the study was designed to be as robust as possible, but cannot rule out the possibility the results were affected by factors such as people's genes, lifestyles and the severity of their ADHD.
Accessing the right medication for ADHD in many countries is a challenge. In the UK waiting times to see specialists after diagnosis in order to access drugs can be several years.
Experts warn that failure to diagnose and treat ADHD can lead to alcoholism and substance abuse.
