Edmund Higgins, a clinical associate professor of family medicine and psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, expressed his concern about the long-term use of ADHD medication in an article that appeared in the July 2009 edition of the journal Scientific American Mind.

A smattering of recent studies, most of them involving animals, hint that stimulants could alter the structure and function of the brain in ways that may depress mood, boost anxiety and, contrary to their short-term effects, lead to cognitive deficits.

Human studies already indicate the medications can adversely affect areas of the brain that govern growth in children, and some researchers worry that additional harms have yet to be unearthed. ...

In light of the emerging evidence, many doctors and researchers are recommending a more cautious approach to the medical use of stimulants.

Some are urging the adoption of strict diagnostic criteria for ADHD and a policy restricting prescriptions for individuals who fit those criteria. Others are advocating behavior modification -- which can be as effective as stimulants over the long run -- as a first-line approach to combating the disorder.

Labels: medications, long_term_effects

Posted By: Aspen/CRC