ADHD in the News 2018-05-24
Unnecessary and accidental use of ADHD drugs on the rise, study finds
An American Academy of Pediatrics study published Monday revealed that the rate of adolescent exposure to ADHD medication reported to U.S. poison control centers increased 71.2 percent from 2000 to 2011, with a 6.2 percent decrease from 2011 to 2014. Exposure could include children finding and ingesting the medication, accidental dosage errors or an intentional overdose for the purpose of getting high or committing suicide.
DES Raises ADHD Risk in Grandchildren
The grandchildren of women who took the endocrine disrupter diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy face increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to results published online today in JAMA Pediatrics. From 1938 through 1971, 5 to 10 million women in the United States were prescribed DES during pregnancy.
Meditation and Mindfulness for ADHD: A Brief Review
Inconclusive findings due to few quality studies and small study sizes...In a systematic review of studies on meditation and mind-body practices (eg, yoga, tai-chi, qigong) as treatments of ADHD only four studies including a total of 83 participants met inclusion criteria for methodological rigor and size.
6 Reasons for Common Psych Diagnostic Mistakes
The first step in any treatment plan is getting the right diagnosis—but it’s not always as straightforward as one would hope. There are a number of mitigating factors that can interfere and, because psychiatric diagnosis is not yet based on clear biomarkers in most cases (though this is beginning to shift) but is instead based largely on clinical presentation, there are unfortunately many reasons why diagnosis may be delayed or inaccurate.
Will Adderall Be the New Opioid Crisis?
Although mixed amphetamines can be a helpful medicine for people with ADHD, they carry a risk of misuse and abuse. Research shows Adderall abuse has increased on college campuses over the past 15 years, with some students diagnosing themselves with ADHD and seeking the “study drug” through doctors, friends and other means in order to study longer and harder.
Increased Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents, Young Adults With ADHD
Previous studies have suggested an association between ADHD and type 2 diabetes-related risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, but few have investigated the association between ADHD and type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.
HealthWatch: ADHD Medication Warning, Doctors Recording Conversations
Dr. Mallika Marshall reports on a study that shows children are being unnecessarily exposed to ADHD drugs and why more physicians are recording their medical conversations with patients (video).
ADHD a biological condition, not just behavioral, new research shows
Researchers compared brain scans of 90 young children and found that those with ADHD symptoms also had smaller brain volume, especially in the frontal lobe -- the area that controls motor function, attention and decision making (video).
NRA’s incoming president ties Ritalin to school shootings, but here’s what the science says
Oliver North, the National Rifle Association's incoming president, has suggested that a certain medication to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, could be partially responsible for the recent gun violence in American schools: Ritalin.
Why Psychiatric Drugs Don’t Cause Mass Shootings
The current theory from the NRA that drugs are responsible for school shootings ranks right up there with blaming death from pneumonia on the use of antibiotics. Life is not this simple.