Reacción a "Meta-analysis examines efficacy of ADHD treatments in adults"

The study by Ostinelli and colleagues reviewed randomised controlled trials on treatments for adult ADHD (≥18 years). While stimulants are the only intervention consistently reducing self-reported and clinician-reported ADHD symptoms in the short term, they fail to improve broader outcomes like quality of life. Adults with ADHD face challenges that extend beyond core symptoms, highlighting the need for treatments and trials that address functional and emotional well-being.

Non-stimulant options, such as atomoxetine, showed some symptom reduction but were less tolerable due to side effects and slower onset of efficacy. Non-pharmacological treatments demonstrated inconsistent effects, likely due to variability in intervention types, frequency, and duration, as well as limited high-quality trials. Notably, of the included trials only 38 examined non-pharmacological approaches vs 113 of pharmacological treatments.

Ultimately a tailored multimodal treatment approach that considers functional and emotional well-being as well as core symptom reduction should be adopted (an approach supported by the Australian ADHD Guideline). Finally the study also highlights a significant gap in evidence for the long-term effects of ADHD treatments. Given that ADHD is a lifelong condition for many individuals, it is essential that sustained, effective interventions are available to adults with ADHD. As such research needs to move beyond short-term symptom control and focus on long-term outcomes that truly improve daily life for those with ADHD.