Back to Search Start Over

Examining the Myth of Prescribed Stimulant Misuse among Individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review

Authors :
Tommaso Callovini
Delfina Janiri
Daniele Segatori
Giulia Mastroeni
Georgios D. Kotzalidis
Marco Di Nicola
Gabriele Sani
Source :
Pharmaceuticals, Vol 17, Iss 8, p 1076 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

The literature emphasizes the importance of addressing the misuse of ADHD medications as a potential significant healthcare issue within the general population. Nevertheless, there are no systematic reviews that specifically examine whether the misuse of psychostimulant medication among clinical populations diagnosed with ADHD who are undergoing prescribed stimulant therapy is a rational concern or a false myth. This systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Statement. We searched PubMed databases for articles indexed up to 12th July 2023, without language restrictions. Our systematic search generated 996 unique articles. After a full-text revision, 13 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. In the 50% of the study on the adult population, the reported prevalence of stimulant misuse was 0%. In other studies, the range of stimulant misuse rates varied from 2% to 29%, with no available data specifically focusing on the youth population. It has been noted that misuse of prescribed stimulant treatment is linked with particular subject characteristics, such as older age, prior or more frequent use of ADHD medication, use of short-acting medication, and a history of alcohol/substance misuse diagnosis. Despite certain limitations, our study highlights that while a significant proportion of individuals undergoing psychostimulant treatment for ADHD follow their prescribed medication regimens without resorting to misuse behaviors, there is variability in adherence, with occurrences of misuse behaviors. The misuse of prescribed ADHD treatment appears to be associated with distinct subject characteristics, underscoring the importance for tailored interventions addressing the specific requirements of these individuals to attain optimal treatment outcomes while mitigating misuse risks.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17081076 and 14248247
Volume :
17
Issue :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pharmaceuticals
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.3fcedd8dc1f84ba0a3476dc4c3d85a32
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17081076