Will ADHD medications help improve concentration in adolescents? A study has found that preschool-aged children diagnosed with ADHD are often prescribed medication too soon after their initial diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Professor Yair Bennett and his team at Stanford University School of Medicine reported in JAMA Network Open that preschool-aged children diagnosed with ADHD are often prescribed medication immediately after diagnosis, contrary to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, which recommend six months of behavioral therapy before starting medication. Professor Bennett said, “We’re not concerned about the toxicity of ADHD medications in children ages 4 and 5. However, because of the side effects, many families may decide that the harm outweighs the benefits and discontinue medication.”<\/p>\n
ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, and impulsive behavior. The research team pointed out that early detection and treatment of ADHD symptoms in preschool children is important for reducing social, emotional, and academic problems, and clinical practice guidelines recommend primary behavioral treatment before considering medication for children aged 4 to 5.The research team analyzed the ADHD diagnosis rate, treatment prescription rate, and the period from first diagnosis to medication prescription through the electronic medical records of 712,478 children aged 3 to 5 who received treatment from 2016 to 2023 at eight primary care institutions belonging to the Pediatric Clinical Research Network (PEDSnet) in the United States.<\/p>\n
As a result, 9,807 children (1.4%) were diagnosed with ADHD during the study period, and 7,414 of them (76.4%) were boys. Of these, 6,624 (68.2%) were prescribed ADHD medication before the age of 7, and 4,092 (42.2%) were prescribed it within 30 days of their initial ADHD diagnosis.<\/p>\n
The rate of prescriptions within 30 days of initial diagnosis also varied by hospital, ranging from 26% to 49%. Furthermore, the likelihood of early prescriptions was 62% higher for children diagnosed at age 5 than at age 4, and boys were 17% more likely to receive them than girls.<\/p>\n
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends six months of evidence-based behavioral therapy, called “parent training in behavior management,” prior to medication for ADHD after diagnosis. This training helps parents build strong, positive relationships with their children and teaches them to reward positive behaviors and ignore negative ones. It also recommends developing helpful tools, such as visual schedules for organizing.<\/p>\n
Professor Bennett said, “This study found that children are prescribed medication immediately after being diagnosed with ADHD. This is concerning, as we know that behavioral approaches to ADHD treatment are beneficial.” He added, “Stimulant medications, which are widely prescribed for ADHD, carry a higher risk of side effects in younger children, and their effectiveness diminishes as the medications break down in the body. Therefore, it is best to begin six months of behavioral therapy before prescribing medication.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"