Monday, March 27, 2023

Prescription Stimulant Use is Associated with Earlier Onset of Psychosis

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Individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders have an earlier onset of psychosis if they have previously been exposed to prescription stimulants, according to new research currently in press in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Amphetamines Have Long-Term Effects on Adolescent Brain, Study Finds

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A new study published in the journal Neuroscience finds that rats given regular doses of amphetamines during adolescence have brain and behavioral changes in adulthood....

Despite the Evidence, Overprescription of Stimulants Continues

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A new study finds that stimulant prescribing rates to children continue to rise despite the well-established evidence documenting overdiagnosis of ADHD and overprescription of stimulants.

Lancet Psychiatry Needs to Retract the ADHD-Enigma Study

Lancet Psychiatry, a UK-based medical journal, recently published a study that concluded brain scans showed that individuals diagnosed with ADHD had smaller brains. That conclusion is belied by the study data. The journal needs to retract this study. UPDATE: Lancet Psychiatry (online) has published letters critical of the study, and the authors' response, and a correction.

Behavioral Therapy (Including Parents) More Effective for ADHD than Drugs

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Stimulant medication does not improve the academic performance or test scores of the 9% of all children in the U.S. diagnosed with ADHD, according to...

Race and Class Affect Teacher Perceptions of ADHD Medication Use

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Study uncovers teachers’ attitudes surrounding ADHD medication use and examines the influence of race and social class on teacher beliefs.

Withdrawal from ADHD Medications

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This guide to the scientific literature on withdrawal from ADHD drugs provides a review of animal studies, withdrawal syndromes, and possible tapering protocols.

Stimulant Medication Use Linked to Sharp Increase in BMI by Eighth Grade

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New evidence suggests that children on ADHD medication may have stunted growth initially but more rapid increases in body mass over time.

Adderall Use Associated with Increased Risk of Psychosis

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Twice as many teenagers with ADHD experienced severe psychosis when taking Adderall, as compared to Ritalin, according to a new study.

Children Diagnosed with ADHD Younger are More Likely to get Multiple Medications

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New research demonstrates that children diagnosed with ADHD at younger ages are more likely than those diagnosed later to receive multiple medications within five years of their diagnosis.

Rates of ADHD Diagnosis and Prescription of Stimulants Continue to Rise

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Two new articles find that rates of ADHD diagnosis and stimulant prescription continue to rise all over the world.

Adults Treated for ADHD Report Low Quality of Life

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Adults receiving ADHD medications and therapy frequently experience adverse events that interfere with employment and daily life.

More Time in Foster Care Linked to More Psychotropic Medicating

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Children as young as four in foster care are taking three or more psychotropic medications, and the length of time that children aged six...
Scowling teenage boy holding up pills sealed in blister packs in his hand as he leans on a wooden table with an intense stare

Risk of Depression Spikes When Kids Take Ritalin

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Risk of depression increased when children were taking methylphenidate for ADHD, but once they stopped taking the drug, depression risk dropped to normal levels.

Ritalin Causes Long-Lasting Change in Prefrontal Neurons

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Drexel University researchers found that methylphenidate (Ritalin) administered to juvenile rats produced significant depressive effects on pyramidal neurons. The authors conclude that "the juvenile...

ADHD Medication Slows Growth, Increases Obesity

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Treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with stimulants affects growth and is likely to cause a higher BMI in later adolescence, according to research from...

Large Increase in Poison Control Calls for Children Taking ADHD Drugs

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New data shows that calls to US poison control centers have increased significantly for children taking stimulant ADHD drugs.

Long-term Safety of ADHD Drugs Has Never Been Studied

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Even though about 10% of American children have been diagnosed with ADHD and most are taking stimulant medications for it, Boston Children’s Hospital researchers...

Stimulants, But Not Cannabis, Predict Readmission for Psychosis

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Prior admissions with stimulant disorder, but not a prior cannabis disorder diagnosis, are a negative prognostic sign in first-episode psychosis according to new research...

Ritalin Impairs Learning and Memory

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Ritalin reduced impulsive responses and increased the amount of time willing to stay on task of Rhesus monkeys in a study from the University...

Teacher Perspectives on Student ADHD Medication Use

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Qualitative study examines patterns in teacher attitudes and knowledge related to medication of students for ADHD-type behaviors.

Long-term Usage of ADHD Drugs Linked to Growth Suppression

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Findings suggest that treatment not only fails to reduce the severity of “ADHD” symptoms in adulthood but is associated with decreased height.

Many Teens Start Misusing Stimulants By Age 13

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An equal percentage of young people will start misusing ADHD-related and other stimulant drugs for the first time at age 13 as will start at age 20.

ADHD Drugs Linked to Psychotic Symptoms in Children

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Stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall, often prescribed to treat children diagnosed with ADHD, are known to cause hallucinations and psychotic symptoms. Until recently these adverse effects were considered to be rare. A new study to be published in the January issue of Pediatrics challenges this belief, however, and finds that many more children may be experiencing psychotic symptoms as a result of these drugs than previously acknowledged.

Taking “Holidays” from ADHD Drugs Helps Prevent Growth Retardation in Children

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It's common for children and adolescents to take prolonged "drug holidays" from their ADHD medications during summer months away from school, and there appear...