Personalized pharmacological treatment of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder marked by significant comorbidity and serious outcomes.

The use of ADHD medication has surged in Sweden and many other countries, and it prompts questions about its effectiveness and safety amid broadened diagnostic criteria.

Despite the general efficacy of these medications, patient responses vary, and high discontinuation rates prevail, highlighting an urgent need for more personalized treatment strategies.

This proposal aims to enhance our understanding of the individualized treatment effects of ADHD medication related to patient characteristics and to develop a decision-aid tool for personalized treatment decisions.

It focuses on key clinical decisions: whether to initiate medication and the choice of first- and second-line treatments.

Utilizing extensive healthcare data from Sweden, Denmark, and the US, we plan to employ cutting-edge study designs and statistical methods. The decision-aid tool, created with end-user collaboration, will be evaluated in a pilot study.

The project will be carried out by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Karolinska Institutet, clinicians from region Stockholm and Skåne, and international experts in the field.

This innovative approach aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce side effects, and tackle the challenges associated with the rising use of ADHD medications, marking a substantial step towards personalized ADHD treatment.