Use of stimulant medications to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents has increased significantly over the past several years – around the globe. Recently, we reported a staggering increase in the UK for children as young as three. That report included information of U.S. sales of ADHD stimulants more than doubling between 2007 and 2012, from $4 billion to $9 billion. This particular study was done in Denmark and also found the trend toward increased use of prescription stimulants goes beyond ADHD to other types of neuropsychiatric disorders in children and teens, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The new study is published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (JCAP), a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Possibly the largest study conducted on ADHD med use to date reviewed more than 850,000 children born in Denmark between 1990 and 2001. They found that 61% of children with ADHD, 16% of children with ASD, and 3% of those with other psychiatric disorders were treated with one or more medications typically prescribed for ADHD—methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, and atomoxetine.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:15:26 +0000
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