# The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement - Author: **Coastal Engineering** - Document Tags: [[adhd]], [[Health Index]], [[Omega3]] - [URL link](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014976342100049X)  ## Highlights - adults with ADHD had very elevated levels of emotional dysregulation compared with normally developing controls ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz9118vz3h9sc2v4x5jjdx4)) (Tags: [[emotional dysregulation]]) --- - Taking side effects into account, the medications with the best benefit-to-risk ratios were methylphenidate for children and adolescents, and amphetamines for adults ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz8mz12ffzy1rfk2memkjsg)) (Tags: [[amphetamine]], [[methylphenidate]]) --- - A meta-analysis found that methylphenidate (13 studies, over 2200 adults) and lisdexamfetamine (five studies, over 2300 adults) led to small-to-moderate reductions in symptoms of emotional dysregulation; for atomoxetine (three studies, 237 adults) the reductions were small ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz92rcv35p9xng2786z3p9j)) (Tags: [[atomoxetine]], [[emotional dysregulation]], [[methylphenidate]], [[lisdexamfetamine]]) --- - [dexmethylphenidate](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/dexmethylphenidate) strongly reduced youth ADHD symptoms ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8jgc6pp8gj3kp17w8m280s4)) (Tags: [[dexmethylphenidate]]) --- - methylphenidate strongly reduced [adult ADHD](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/adult-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder) symptoms, with higher doses resulting in greater improvement ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8jgbq0kgtw0f41jja08gdeb)) (Tags: [[methylphenidate]]) --- - discontinuing medications led to a worsening in quality of life for children and adolescents but not adults ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz8sah0gjazfm220qjmc86b)) --- - A meta-analysis of methylphenidate treatment for ADHD found moderate improvements in response inhibition (25 studies, 787 participants) and sustained attention (29 studies, 956 participants), but no significant effect on working memory ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz8t91t8qp8cm1yv3rvg5f8)) (Tags: [[methylphenidate]]) --- - stimulant users had more than twice the rate of cardiovascular events (primarily hypertension) than nonusers. These events were rare ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz8vngjy06pa4tzmz69rm9z)) (Tags: [[stimulants]], [[stimulant]]) --- - Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with small-to-medium improvements in ADHD symptoms in three meta-analyses (ten studies with 699 participants, 16 studies with 1408 participants, 7 studies with 534 participants) ([Bloch and Qawasmi, 2011](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014976342100049X#bib0100); [Chang et al., 2018](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014976342100049X#bib0225); [Hawkey and Nigg, 2014](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014976342100049X#bib0655)). Another meta-analysis, with 18 studies and 1640 participants, found tiny improvements ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8ds2qxvjmfjj6r9fxw1csa0)) (Tags: [[omega3]]) --- - A meta-analysis of five double-blind [crossover studies](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/crossover-study) with 164 participants found that restricting synthetic food colors from children’s diets was associated with a small reduction in ADHD symptoms ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8ds1zqck9v6mwkrqgcah8jh)) --- - Another meta-analysis found no significant effect of exercise on either hyperactivity/impulsivity (4 studies, 227 participants) or inattention symptoms (6 studies, 277 participants), but significant reductions in anxiety and depression (5 studies, 164 participants) - Note: Exercise helps anxiety and depression, not adhd ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8drz7373hgxhs2enbqyzcy2)) --- - affects 5.9 % of youth and 2.8 % of adults worldwide. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01haz8z4k22pfphpn9afe3yjt1)) --- - In addition, far more research pertains to males than females. We also need to learn more about ADHD in older adults. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8drtrma8pgcghzqjg8pq473)) --- - Although we have good treatments for ADHD, even the best treatments are only partially effective. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h8drwrzhch2jhgy61t5f1a20)) ---