ArticleEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2016
Use of drugs for ADHD among adults-a multinational study among 15.8 million adults in the Nordic countries.
Article in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder late birthdate effect common in both high and low prescribing international jurisdictions: a systematic review.Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2019Pooled it
- Effects of one single-dose methylphenidate compared to one single-dose placebo on QbTest performance in adults with untreated ADHD: a randomized controlled trial.BMC psychiatry · 2023Trial
- Prescription psychostimulants or atomoxetine and the risk of stimulant-related hospital admissions in adults with and without stimulant use disorder: a Swedish population-based within-individual observational study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Prescription psychostimulants, atomoxetine and the risk of psychosis in adults with history of psychosis: a population-based cohort study.Translational psychiatry · 2026Article
- Comorbidities and comedication among individuals in treatment for ADHD: a Danish nationwide study.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Trends in use of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder medications among children and adults in five European countries, 2010 to 2023: a population-based observational study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Global Trends in ADHD Medication Use: Multiple Contexts and Rising Concerns-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: evidence base, uncertainties and controversies.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2025Article
- A Review of Sex and Gender Factors in Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions.Journal of attention disorders · 2025Review
- Nationwide trends in the use of ADHD medications in the period 2006-2022: a study from the Norwegian prescription database.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Health-related quality of life in psychiatric outpatients: a cross-sectional study of associations with symptoms, diagnoses, and employment status.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2024Article
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Medication Use Trajectories Among Women in the Perinatal Period.CNS drugs · 2024Article
- ADHD medicine consumption in Europe after COVID-19: catch-up or trend change?BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Comparison of the real-world safety of two different long-acting methylphenidate formulations (MedikinetScandinavian journal of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology · 2024Article
- Trends in use of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication among children and adolescents in Scandinavia in 2010-2020.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2023Article
- Dose titration of osmotic release oral system methylphenidate in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a retrospective cohort study.BMC pediatrics · 2023Article
- Prevalence trends and individual patterns of ADHD medication use in pregnancy in Norway and Sweden, 2010-2019.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2023Article
- Comedication and Polypharmacy With ADHD Medications in Adults: A Swedish Nationwide Study.Journal of attention disorders · 2021Article
- Paternal exposure to a common pharmaceutical (Ritalin) has transgenerational effects on the behaviour of Trinidadian guppies.Scientific reports · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 5 institutions in 5 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe use of ADHD drugs among adults is controversial and has until recently not been approved for use in adults in most countries. The aim was to investigate use of ADHD drugs (stimulants and atomoxetine) among the entire adult population in the Nordic countries.
methodsWe conducted a multinational population-based prescription register study based on the entire adult population in the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). All users of ADHD drugs aged 18-64 years during 2008-2012 were included, which for 2012 comprised 76,896 drug users among 15.8 million adult inhabitants.
resultsAnnual prevalence of drug use increased during the study period for both genders and all age groups. The overall prevalence increased from 2.4 to 5.3 per 1000 men and 1.8 to 4.4 per 1000 women. Incidence also increased, but to a lesser extent in the last part of the study period. Methylphenidate was used by 88 % of drug users. Treatment was discontinued within the first year by 21 % of new drug users. Among all users of ADHD drugs, 53 % of men and 64 % of women concurrently used other psychotropic drugs, most frequently antidepressants and hypnotics. Psychotropic co-medication increased with age and was more pronounced among women than men.
conclusionsUse of ADHD drug among adults more than doubled over a 5-year period, and a majority were concurrently treated with other psychotropics. Adults constitute a substantial proportion of persons treated with ADHD drugs. Thus, evidence for long-term efficacy and safety in adults is urgently needed.
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Registered trials
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