Did you know that many kids with ADHD don’t stick to their medication? This can affect their long-term outcomes. Let’s talk about ways to improve adherence!
This article summarizes a systematic review titled “Adherence and Persistence to Medication in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Systematic Review and Qualitative Update,” published in the European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry journal. Conducted by the European ADHD Guidelines Group (EAGG), the study examined medication adherence and persistence in children and adolescents with ADHD, based on 66 studies.
The study reveals that adherence to ADHD medications in children and adolescents is significantly low. Less than 23% of patients consistently take their medication after one year.
Why does this happen? Several factors contribute to poor adherence, such as:
- Age: Younger children often struggle more.
- Comorbidities: Other conditions like Oppositional Defiant Disorder can affect adherence.
- Medication: Formulation (short-acting vs. long-acting), dosage, and side effects play a role.
- Social factors: Family environment, social support, and socioeconomic status also matter.
What can be done? The authors suggest:
- Consistent monitoring: Especially during the first month of treatment.
- Educational programs: Help patients and families understand the importance of medication.
- Long-acting medications: Make treatment easier to follow.
- Strong doctor-patient relationship: A trusting relationship improves adherence.
What’s missing? More research is needed to:
- Understand the long-term consequences of poor adherence.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions to improve adherence.
- Analyze the impact of cultural and social factors on adherence.
Conclusion
Poor adherence to ADHD medication is a significant problem. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this and work to improve it. More research is needed to develop more effective strategies.
In summary, this study is in line with of our project TIMESPAN and highlights the need to address the issue of poor adherence to ADHD medication in children and adults. TIMESPAN project is helping to understand the factors that influence adherence and implementing effective strategies, treatment outcomes can be significantly improved.
This post was provided by Prof. Dr. med. J. A. Ramos-Quiroga.