Stimulants may not worsen anxiety and could even benefit some children with anxiety. A 2015 analysis of studies that included 2,959 children with ADHD revealed that psychostimulant treatment significantly reduced the risk of anxiety compared to a placebo.
Higher doses of psychostimulants were linked to a further decrease in the measured risk of anxiety. Despite potentially increased anxiety in some children, the study emphasizes that the overall benefits of managing ADHD symptoms outweigh these risks.