ADHD medication adherence: the importance of adequate prescribing

ADHD affects around 5% of children (aged <18 years) and although the rate of clinical diagnoses tends to decline in adulthood, about 2·5% of adults meet the diagnostic criteria. 1 Faraone SV Asherson P Banaschewski T et al. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015; 1: 1-23 Crossref Scopus (865) Google Scholar People with ADHD often experience impairments in psychosocial, physical, and societal functioning, resulting in an overall decrease in quality of life. 1 Faraone SV Asherson P Banaschewski T et al. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015; 1: 1-23 Crossref Scopus (865) Google Scholar Medication, including stimulants and non-stimulants, is a crucial part of managing ADHD and can greatly improve outcomes. 1 Faraone SV Asherson P Banaschewski T et al. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015; 1: 1-23 Crossref Scopus (865) Google Scholar However, there is a persistent gap between evidence-based guidelines and their application in clinical practice, leading to uncertainty about the effective use of ADHD medication. 2 Rosenau PT Dietrich A Matthijssen AM et al. Adherence to clinical guidelines for dose finding and monitoring methylphenidate use: a medical record audit in child and adolescent mental health care and pediatric settings. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2023; 33: 183-189 Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ADHD medication discontinuation and persistence across the lifespan: a retrospective observational study using population-based databasesEarly medication discontinuation is prevalent in ADHD treatment, particularly among young adults. Although reinitiation of medication is common, treatment persistence in adolescents and young adults is lower than expected based on previous estimates of ADHD symptom persistence in these age groups. This study highlights the scope of medication treatment discontinuation and persistence in ADHD across the lifespan and provides new knowledge about long-term ADHD medication use. Full-Text PDF