ADHD treatment may be prematurely discontinued in some young adults

Some adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are struggling to get treatment according to a report co-authored by Professor Ian Wong of our Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research.

The study demonstrated that the prevalence of prescribing by general practitioners to patients with ADHD drops significantly from age 15 to 21. The fall in prescribing is greater than the reported age-related decrease in symptoms, raising the possibility that treatment is prematurely discontinued in some young adults where ADHD symptoms persist. The study also identified that some young adults had difficulty in obtaining treatments after discharge from the paediatric services.

The report is available here

Read Professor Wong's BBC interview here