MEDICAL RESEARCH
ADHD medication could have additional benefits
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication is linked to significantly lower risk of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, according to a study of the wider outcomes of treatment.
The research, based on medical records of nearly 150,000 people in Sweden, suggested the drugs could have benefits beyond helping with the core symptoms of ADHD.
After accounting for factors including age, sex, education level, psychiatric diagnoses and medical history, ADHD medication was associated with reduced rates of a first occurrence of suicidal behaviour (17%), substance misuse (15%), transport accidents (12%) and criminality (13%). Of the 148,581 individuals with ADHD, 84,282 (57%) started drug treatment for ADHD, with methylphenidate being the most common, the paper in the British Medical Journal reports.
AGRICULTURE…
