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
Prenatal Exposure to Acetaminophen May Affect Infant's Brain
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27, 2025 -- Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may increase the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) among offspring, according to a study published online...
Community Intervention Can Increase ADHD Treatment Utilization
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27, 2025 -- A five-month community health worker intervention for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) called SupporT for ADHD and Related Treatment...
AAP Updates Screening Guidance for Child Mental Health, Behavioral Problems
MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2025 -- In a clinical report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and published online Aug. 25 in Pediatrics, updated recommendations are presented 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.