These observational studies also showed positive correlations between early recognition of the disorder , stimulant treatment during childhood and favorable long-term outcome in adult ADHD patients .
In conclusion , stimulant therapy of ADHD has long-term beneficial effects and is well tolerated .
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is a common disorder of childhood that often persists into adulthood .
Although stimulant medications are recommended as the first-line treatment for ADHD because of their documented short-term effects in children and adults , less is known about their effects on long-term outcome in adults .
Here we review the long-term efficacy and safety of the stimulant drugs methylpheni date and amphetamine , as well as the related compound atomoxetine .
We performed a systematic review to identify direct and indirect effects of stimulant therapy on long-term outcome in adults .
Stimulant therapy and risk for subsequent substance use disorders in male adults with ADHD: a naturalistic controlled 10-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE The extant literature does not provide definite answers pertaining to whether stimulant treatment increases , decreases , or does not affect the risk for subsequent substance use disorders in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . The authors examined the association between stimulant treatment in childhood and adolescence and subsequent substance use disorders ( alcohol , drug , and nicotine ) into the young adult years . METHOD The authors conducted a 10-year prospect i ve follow-up study . One hundred forty male Caucasian children with ADHD , ages 6 to 17 , were examined at baseline . Of these , 112 ( 80 % ) were reassessed at the 10-year follow-up  ( mean age at follow-up=22 years ) . Assessment s were made using Cox proportional hazards survival models . All models were adjusted for conduct disorder , since conduct disorder is a potent predictor of subsequent substance use disorders . RESULTS Of the 112 ADHD subjects who were reassessed at the 10-year follow-up , 82 ( 73 % ) had been treated previously with stimulants and 25 ( 22 % ) were undergoing stimulant treatment at the time of the follow-up assessment . There were no statistically significant associations between  stimulant treatment and alcohol , drug , or nicotine use disorders . CONCLUSIONS The findings revealed no evidence that stimulant treatment increases or decreases the risk for subsequent substance use disorders in children and adolescents with ADHD when they reach young adulthood
These observational studies also showed positive correlations between early recognition of the disorder , stimulant treatment during childhood and favorable long-term outcome in adult ADHD patients .
In conclusion , stimulant therapy of ADHD has long-term beneficial effects and is well tolerated .
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is a common disorder of childhood that often persists into adulthood .
Although stimulant medications are recommended as the first-line treatment for ADHD because of their documented short-term effects in children and adults , less is known about their effects on long-term outcome in adults .
Here we review the long-term efficacy and safety of the stimulant drugs methylpheni date and amphetamine , as well as the related compound atomoxetine .
We performed a systematic review to identify direct and indirect effects of stimulant therapy on long-term outcome in adults .