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A recent study of nearly 400,000 patients found that people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who take stimulants face a small but notable risk of developing psychosis or bipolar disorder. About 3 percent of patients developed one of these conditions after starting medication.
Key Findings
The meta-analysis, published in JAMA Psychiatry, pooled results from 16 studies across North America, Europe, and Asia. It was the first-ever systematic analysis looking at both psychosis and bipolar disorder in relation to ADHD medications.
The study reviewed both amphetamines and methylphenidate, two common stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD. Amphetamines were associated with roughly 60 percent higher odds of developing psychotic symptoms compared with methylphenidate.
