A major US study has found that children as young as four and five 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 and based on more than 9,700 children, revealed that 42.2% of newly diagnosed children were given medication within a month, while only 14.1% started medication after the recommended six-month delay.
Experts stress that beginning treatment with behavioural therapy helps children and families build coping strategies and can have lasting benefits. While medications such as Ritalin and Concerta are effective in reducing hyperactivity and inattentiveness, they may cause side effects including irritability and emotional changes, leading some families to stop treatment.
Researchers note that the overreliance on medication may stem partly from limited access to behavioural therapy. Although ADHD affects over 11% of US children, the approach to treatment differs globally, with children in North America far more likely to receive medication than those in Europe.
