Medicines reduce risky behavior

Two million people have an attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) in France. When it becomes a daily handicap, doctors can prescribe suitable treatment. But the evidence of the effectiveness of these drugs remained limited, until the recent publication of a study. In British Medical Journalscientists show that treatment would reduce certain risky behaviors.

A vast study on the effects of ADHD treatment

These researchers relied on data from the Swedish national registers to examine the effects of the drug processing of ADHD in 148,581 people aged 6 to 64 having recently received a diagnosis of ADHD. 57 % of them started medication, mainly methylphenidate. Scientists observed the appearance of certain events/behaviors over a period of two years after the diagnosis: suicidal behavior, drug addiction, accidental injuries, road accidents and crime.

ADHD: Treatment decreases the risk of suicidal behavior, crime, road accident and drug addiction

“After taking into account factors such as age, sex, level of education, psychiatric diagnostics and medical history, medicines for ADHD have been associated with a reduction in first appearance rates for four of the five criteria: a 17 % reduction for suicidal behavior, 15 % for drug addiction, 12 % for road accidents and 13 % for crime “they observe. When these events were recurrent before treatment, the researchers noticed a decrease of 15 % of suicide attempts, 25 % of drug addiction, 4 % of accidental injuries, 16 % of road accidents and 25 % of crime.

ADHD treatment: new lighting for healthcare professionals

For the authors, these effects could be the consequence of a decrease in impulsiveness. Thus, the drug would reduce aggressive behavior, and therefore crime, while increasing attention, which reduces the risk of road accidents by minimizing distractions. “”These results provide evidence of the effects of the drug treatment of ADHD with significant health and social results, which should shed light on clinical practice and the debate on the drug treatment of ADHD “conclude the authors.

If they are a few limits to their work, including the non-account of the level of gravity of the disorder, they highlight the importance of treatment. “”When doctors discuss potential use [des médicaments]they focus on the type of medication and side effects – which we don’t need to underestimate, but often there is no risk information if you do not take medicationraises Dr. Samuele Cortese, one of the authors of the study and professor at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, in an article ofEuronews. (…) I think it is important to consider [que] If the disorder is not treated, there can be risks, and now we have proof that drugs can help reduce them. ”