ADHD Medications Remain Linked to Lower Risk for Real-World Adverse Outcomes
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications remain associated with a reduced risk for various real-world outcomes, but the magnitude of these associations decreases alongside increasing prescription rates, according to a study published online June 25 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Lin Li, Ph.D., from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues examined the associations between ADHD medications and the change in real-world outcomes as prescription rates rise using data from a population-based study involving individuals who used ADHD medications in Sweden between 2006 and 2020. The rates of self-harm, unintentional injury, traffic crashes, and crime were compared during medicated versus nonmedicated periods.
A total of 247,420 individuals aged 4 to 64 years used ADHD medications between 2006 and 2020 in Sweden. The researchers found that across age groups and sexes and over time, ADHD medication was consistently associated with lower risks for self-harm (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.77 to 0.85), unintentional injury (IRR, 0.87 to 0.93), traffic crashes (IRR, 0.71 to 0.87), and crime (IRR, 0.73 to 0.84). As prescription rates increased, the associations between ADHD medication use and lower risks for unintentional injury, traffic crashes, and crime appeared to weaken. The weakening trend for unintentional injury and traffic crashes was not fully explained by changes in age and sex distribution of individuals receiving ADHD medication.
"While ADHD medications are consistently associated with reduced risk of serious real-world outcomes, the magnitude of these associations [has] decreased over time alongside rising prescription rates," the authors write. "This underscores the importance of continuously evaluating medication use in different patient populations."
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2025
Read this next
Insomnia Plays a Role in Quality of Life for Patients With ADHD
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with lower quality of life (QoL) in adults, and this association is only partially...
Onset of Sepsis in First Week of Life Tied to Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder
TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 -- Early-onset neonatal sepsis is associated with increased likelihood autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder...
Prescribing ADHD Meds by Telehealth Does Not Alter Risk for Substance Use Disorder Overall
TUESDAY, June 17, 2025 -- Receipt of a stimulant prescription for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) via telehealth is not associated with an increased risk for...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.