Pharmacotherapy of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents
Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioural disorder in children and adolescents, consisting of developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. The majority of children with ADHD will continue to experience significant ADHD symptoms as teens. ADHD in adolescents can result in significant functional impairment and poorer quality of life. Children and adolescents with ADHD are at higher risk of developing other psychiatric illnesses such as mood, conduct and substance abuse disorders. Stimulants (amphetamines and methylphenidates) and nonstimulants (atomoxetine, guanfacine extended-release (XR) and clonidine XR) have been found to be effective and are approved by the US FDA for the treatment of ADHD in adolescents in the US. Of the agents approved in the US, only guanfacine XR and clonidine XR are not approved in any other countries. There is growing evidence that treatment of ADHD with stimulants reduces the risk of development of other psychiatric co-morbidities, including substance abuse disorders. To date, all FDA-approved stimulants and nonstimulants that have been adequately studied have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in treating ADHD in both children and adolescents. Therefore, clinical decisions used in selecting pharmacotherapy to treat ADHD in children aged 6-12 years can be applied in the adolescent population.
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Guanfacine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in adolescents.
“As guanfacine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in adolescents103, it may offer a practical approach for reducing the inflammatory response and gray matter loss found in prodromal schizophrenia5.”
From Stress weakens prefrontal networks: molecular insults to higher cognition (2015) · cites this paper as [103]
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“Furthermore, adolescents with inattention are at a higher risk of other psychiatric illnesses such as mood and conduct disorders, and substance abuse [18,19].”
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- Authors
- Childress, A. C., & Berry, S. A.
- Affiliations
- Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Childress, Ann C.
- ORCID
- Childress, Ann C.
- Venue
- Drugs
- Published
- 2012-02
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 309-325
- ISSN
- 0012-6667 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1990984202
- Cited by
- 77
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 2.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drugs (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Shire
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pharmaceutical studies and practices
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, adolescents, pharmacotherapy, stimulants, amphetamine, methylphenidate, atomoxetine, guanfacine extended release, non-stimulant medication, psychiatric comorbidity, substance abuse, treatment efficacy and safety, FDA-approved drugs
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors, Conduct Disorder, Mood Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
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