Researchers Criticize Putting Preschoolers on Stimulant Drugs

['Peter Simons', 'Peter Simons Was An Academic Researcher In Psychology. Now', 'As A Science Writer', 'He Tries To Provide The Layperson With A View Into The Sometimes Inscrutable World Of Psychiatric Research. As An Editor For Blogs', 'Personal Stories At Mad In America', 'He Prizes The Accounts Of Those With Lived Experience Of The Psychiatric System', 'Shares Alternatives To The Biomedical Model.', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus'] Mad In America 2025-09-08 10:00:10

Against guideline recommendations, preschoolers were often prescribed stimulants without even having the chance to try family behavioral therapy. In a new study, researchers found that preschoolers are not receiving appropriate guideline-directed care for ADHD. Drugs are recommended by the guidelines only after therapy has failed to improve the situation or in very severe cases. But the researchers found that 42.2% of these 3- to 5-year-olds were given stimulant drugs before therapy could even be attempted. “Clinical practice guidelines recommend medications as second-line treatment in cases with substantial dysfunction or lack of response to behavioral treatment,” the researchers write.