A recently published study has found the first clear connection between consistent ADHD medication use and a reduced risk of suicidal behaviors. This discovery in particular seems to hold true for people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Zheng Chang, who led the research, used the medical records of close to 150,000 Swedes to inform their findings. The results offer powerful new evidence for the value of pharmacological treatment for ADHD.
The recently published study, which used Swedish national registers from 2007 to 2020, examined a cohort of 148,581 people with ADHD. The majority of these participants were adolescents, average age 17 years old. Among those studied, 41% were female. The resulting data showed that 84,282 people—57% of the sample—had started receiving drug therapy for their ADHD.
And with both studies combined, the analysis found that ADHD medication was associated with a 17% decrease in suicidal behavior. After our study, the outcomes were stunning. Substance misuse was 15% lower, trauma from transport accidents was down 12%, and criminality tied to ADHD medications was reduced by 13%. In addition, researchers found no meaningful risk reduction for first visits for unintentional injury.
Methylphenidate mainly accounted for the growth of ADHD medication during the growing period. What’s most striking is the nature of those findings. They offer compelling evidence that ADHD medication is quite effective at reducing severe behavioral problems.
This analysis was recently published in the British Medical Journal. It has been lauded as one of the most scientifically rigorous approaches for analyzing non-experimental, observational data. Hong Kong Baptist University Assistant Professor and study co-author Dr. Zheng Chang underlined the methodological rigor behind their research, saying,
“It’s now considered one of the most rigorous methods for analyzing observational data. However, since we don’t have the real randomisation data it is not bias-proof.” – Dr. Zheng Chang
Of course, Samuele Cortese and Adam Guastella, two leaders in the field, happen to have endorsed the study’s conclusions. Prof. Cortese pointed out an important point that is missing from conversations about ADHD behavioral therapies versus medication.
“When clinicians discuss the possible use of medication with families, oftentimes there is not a focus on what are the risks if you don’t treat.” – Prof. Samuele Cortese
We caught up with Prof. Guastella to learn more about their findings. … more care in recognizing the societal benefits of drugs,” he said.
“Such benefits have been shown repeatedly in previous studies, but the large sample size, use of a national registry, and more sophisticated analysis give greater confidence in these results that findings aren’t explained by something else other than medication use.” – Prof. Adam Guastella
He stressed that families should understand what ADHD medications can do. At the same time, we know these treatments can have extraordinary effects on quality of life.
“People should know that if ADHD medications work for them and their child, that there will likely be many other positive impacts on life from treatment. Such effects will not work for everyone and there is still a need to understand why many individuals benefit from ADHD medication and some do not.” – Prof. Adam Guastella
This comprehensive study is greatly needed at this moment. Since the start of the pandemic, prescriptions for ADHD medications in England have increased by 18% annually. This increase highlights an immediate need for a national dialogue about the appropriateness of treatments available, their value, and who benefits from new treatment options.