What’s the link between ADHD medication and psychosis?

Detailed summary

Stimulant medications are typically the first treatment option for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. As ADHD diagnoses have gone up, so have prescriptions.

This year, several alarming reports have warned that Australians are developing psychosis from using stimulant medications, typically prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Psychosis itself is not a diagnosis; it’s a mental health symptom that involves having difficulty separating what is real from what is not. People might hear, see, feel, taste or smell things that don’t exist, or they can start to develop ideas that don’t reflect reality.

For some people (an estimated one in 200 Australians) psychosis is part of a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. Others will experience a psychotic episode once and fully recover.

While psychosis is uncommon, it is a serious health issue that can require acute care.

So, with an increasing number of Australians taking ADHD medication, how worried should we be?

In Australia, stimulants are the most common drug prescribed for ADHD. The main types include methylphenidate (brands such as Ritalin and Concerta) and members of the amphetamine family, dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine (sold as Vyvanse).

Non-stimulants – such as atomoxetine, and guanfacine and clonidine – are also prescribed, but are less common.

Stimulants work by boosting dopamine and noradrenaline. These are neurotransmitters that are important for reward, motivation and focus. Imagine having 50 browser tabs open at once. Stimulants can help minimise the background tabs, so people can focus on the main screen.

Increased awareness of ADHD means diagnosis rates have also increased – and so has the number of people prescribed stimulant medicines.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Conversation AU. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.