Top 5 ADHD stories of 2015

As 2015 comes to a close, Healio.com/Psychiatry took a moment to review the top stories regarding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder throughout the year.

They include studies on pharmacologic treatment for ADHD, onset of the disorder in adults, connections between ADHD and obesity, FDA news and more.

Evekeo safe, effective for ADHD among children in classroom setting

“The primary objective of the current study was to establish that an optimal dose of [Evekeo (amphetamine sulfate, Arbor Pharmaceuticals Inc.)] in children 6 to 12 years old diagnosed with ADHD would result in a significant reduction in ADHD signs and symptoms compared to placebo at 2 hours postdose in a laboratory classroom, while characterizing the onset of effect and duration of action for the medication,” study researcher Ann C. Childress, MD, of the Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in Las Vegas, and colleagues wrote. Read more

Adults with ADHD may not have had onset of disorder in childhood

In the prospective, longitudinal study, researchers evaluated 1,037 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972 and 1973, who were participants in Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, an analysis of health and behavior in a complete birth cohort. Participants were followed to age 38. Children with ADHD were identified through the Dunedin Study’s group of children and diagnosed at ages 11, 13 and 15, between 1984 and 1988 (n = 61). A child psychiatrist identified symptoms of ADHD in the children aged 11 and 13 years using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Child Version, and trained reviewers identified symptoms at age 15. Read more

ADHD medication use reduced child, adolescent brain injury risk

Researchers identified 37,650 children and adolescents with a new diagnosis of ADHD in 2005 and 2006 from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database; there were 2,128 children and adolescents with at least one hospitalization and any injury diagnosis. The majority of children included were aged 6 to 11 years at the time of an ADHD diagnosis, according to data. Patients were assigned either methylphenidate or atomoxetine and assessed for whether either medication reduced the risk of injuries. Read more

Meta-analysis shows significant association between ADHD, obesity in children, adults

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 42 studies to assess the association between ADHD and obesity. The analysis included 728,136 study participants, of which 48,161 had ADHD. Read more

FDA: Daytrana patch may cause permanent loss of skin color

The FDA has issued a warning that use of the Daytrana patch, an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment, may lead to permanent loss of skin color. Read more