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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Anita Thapar1, Miriam Cooper1

  • 1Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Section, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.

Lancet (London, England)
|September 21, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, often requiring a stepwise treatment approach. While stimulant medications show short-term benefits, non-drug interventions lack proven efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 1.4-3.0% of children.
  • ADHD exhibits significant comorbidity with other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
  • The etiology of ADHD is multifactorial, involving genetic and non-inherited factors, with prenatal and perinatal influences implicated but not definitively proven.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of ADHD, including its prevalence, risk factors, and treatment guidelines.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for ADHD.
  • To highlight the long-term outcomes associated with ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature, including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.
  • Examination of longitudinal studies tracking individuals with ADHD into adulthood.
  • Analysis of treatment guidelines and recommendations.

Main Results:

  • Stimulant medication and atomoxetine demonstrate short-term benefits in ADHD treatment.
  • Meta-analyses of non-drug interventions for ADHD have not yet established their efficacy.
  • Longitudinal studies indicate an increased risk of mental health issues, social difficulties, and premature mortality in adults with ADHD.

Conclusions:

  • ADHD is a complex disorder with significant long-term implications.
  • Current evidence supports short-term efficacy of stimulant medications, while non-drug treatments require further investigation.
  • A stepwise treatment approach, starting with non-drug interventions, is recommended for ADHD management.

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