Long-term medication for ADHD shown to improve daily functioning
New study: long-term medication for ADHD shown to improve daily functioning
Scientific research indicates that the estimated worldwide prevalence of ADHD is currently 5% and is associated with long-term risks for adverse outcomes in academic, occupational, and social functioning.
Researchers at the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg/Child Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, have conducted a 2-year observational study and found that long-term medication for ADHD in children and adolescents with complex comorbidities, such as autism, has led to sustained improvements in symptoms, daily functioning and comorbidity outcomes. Comorbidity symptoms, in particular anxiety, depression and oppositional symptoms were reduced after 1 year of medication.
A total of 128 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years, meeting criteria for ADHD and other ESSSENCE-related disorders, such as autism, participated in the trial. Each participant received medication tailored to their personal needs.
Although numerous international studies have demonstrated that ADHD medication helps in the short term, there are few studies that have documented long-term effects on quality of life and daily functioning, rendering the results even more significant.
Lead researcher Associate Professor and Head Physician Mats Johnson said “ The results indicate that long-term well-controlled and individually tailored ADHD medication can give several benefits in daily functioning and well-being for children and adolescents with ADHD and complex comorbidities.
In the future, these results could help clinicians to provide well-informed and timely medical interventions, ensuring children and adolescents have the best possible conditions to thrive in social and educational settings, cornerstones for a happy and prosperous life.
While this trial was conducted with a relatively small sample size, it does provide hope to children and their parents as well as professionals in the field of neuropsychiatry/ESSENCE.
by Anna Spyrou (Communications Officer)
This article was published in European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.
Reference
Johnson, M., Johnels, J. Å., Östlund, S., Jakobsson, K., Högstedt, J., Larsson, P. J., Gillberg, C., & Billstedt, E. (2024). Long-term medication for ADHD (LMA) trial: 2-year prospective observational study in children and adolescents. Core symptoms, daily functioning, and comorbidity outcomes. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 274(4), 879–890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-023-01744-1