ADHD medications effective at reducing symptoms in adults but not improving quality of life, study finds

Stimulant drugs and non-stimulant medication atomoxetine are the only treatments that effectively reduce the core symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults in the short-term, a major study has found. Medications that effectively reduced ADHD symptoms in adults did not improve their overall quality of life, the study found, and there wasn't enough evidence to draw conclusions about the effects of ADHD treatments in the long term. "We also looked at findings beyond 12 weeks, at 26 and 52 weeks, but these were limited due to the amount of data … Long-term evidence for ADHD interventions is under-investigated," Dr Ostinelli said. "Non-pharmacological treatments demonstrated inconsistent effects, likely due to variability in intervention types, frequency, and duration, as well as limited high-quality trials," Dr Kirk, from the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, said. Gap in evidence on long-term effects The study also highlighted a "significant gap in evidence" for the long-term effects of ADHD treatments, Dr Kirk added.