ADHD drugs have wider life benefits, study suggests

Drug treatment can help newly diagnosed with ADHD (hyperactivity disorder of attention deficit) to reduce their risk of substance abuse, suicidal behavior, transport accidents and crime, suggests a study.

These problems are linked to common ADHD symptoms such as acting with impulse and becoming easily distracted.

It is believed that 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide are affected by disorder – and increasing figures are diagnosed.

The results, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), confirm the broader potential advantages of drug treatment and could help patients decide to start medicines, according to researchers.

Having ADHD means that the brain works differently for most others.

Symptoms may include difficulties in concentrating and sitting, having high energy levels and being impulsive.

Despite the sharp increase in people who are asking for help, the disorder does not become more common. Last year, a BBC survey found long expectations for evaluation in the United Kingdom.

People are only diagnosed if symptoms cause at least a moderate impact on their lives.

The most commonly prescribed drugs, called stimulants, help manage daily symptoms, but there has been limited proof of longer -term benefits for people’s behavior, while being well published by side effects, such as headache, loss of appetite and sleep problems, have triggered a debate on their safety.

This BMJ study was based on 148,500 people aged six to 64, with ADHD in Sweden.

Some 57% began drug treatment and, among these, methylphenidate (also known as Ritalin), was prescribed, 88%.

Researchers, the University of Southampton and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, found that taking ADHD medication was linked to reductions in the first bodies of:

• Suicidal behavior – 17%
• Substance abuse – 15%
• Transport accidents – 12%
• Criminal behavior – 13%

When recurring events have been analyzed, researchers found that ADHD medication were linked to discounts of:

• 15% for suicide attempts
• 25% for substance abuses
• 4% for accidental injuries
• 16% for transport accidents
• 25% for criminal behavior

“Often there is no information on risks if you do not treat ADHD,” said Professor Samuele Cortese, study author and psychiatry teacher for children and adolescents at the University of Southampton.

“Now we have proof that they [drugs] can reduce these risks. “”

This could be explained by drugs reducing impulsive behavior and lack of concentration, which could reduce the risk of accidents during driving and reduce aggressive behavior that could lead to crime.

Researchers say that the study has been designed to be as robust as possible, but cannot exclude the possibility that the results have been affected by factors such as people of people, lifestyles and gravity of their ADHD.

Accessing the right medication for ADHD in many countries is not easy, some short -term drugs. In the United Kingdom, waiting times to see specialists after diagnosis in order to access drugs can be several years.

Professor Stuart Kinner, head of judge Health Group of Curtin University in Western Australia, said that research has demonstrated “the diffuse advantages of the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD”.

“Not to diagnose and treat ADHD can lead to self-medication with alcohol or other drugs, poor mental health, injuries and incarceration,” he said.

“Too many people with unmatched ADHD find themselves in the criminal justice system, where their condition can remain unmatched and untreated.”

Ian Maidment, professor in clinical pharmacy at Aston University, said that the study “adds to our understanding the potential advantages of these drugs”.

However, he said that research had not evaluated if patients really took their medication or the impact of different doses.