A major US study has found that children as young as four and five years old are often prescribed ADHD medication immediately after diagnosis, despite medical guidelines recommending six months of behavioural therapy first.
The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, reviewed data from more than 9,700 children and revealed that 42.2% of young patients were given medication within one month of diagnosis, while only 14.1% received drugs more than six months later. Experts say this practice overlooks the proven benefits of starting with behavioural therapy, which can positively affect both children and their families.
Although ADHD medication is generally considered safe, stimulants can cause side effects such as irritability and aggression, leading many parents to discontinue treatment. Researchers suggest that limited access to behavioural therapy may be driving the reliance on drugs.
With an estimated 11.4% of US children aged 3 to 17 diagnosed with ADHD, early and appropriate intervention is seen as critical. While most children benefit from a combination of therapy and medication, experts stress that for preschoolers, behavioural strategies should be the first step.
