No, there is no evidence of that. In fact, if anything, there's stronger evidence that Ritalin and other medications that are used to treat ADHD would reduce violence and aggressive behavior.

George DuPaul

Categorized in : Health News

The drugs also tend to help with reducing impulsive behavior and reducing hyperactivity, or high activity levels, and those are the primary symptoms of ADHD, we've been studying drugs like Ritalin for over 50 years, and there are hundreds and hundreds of research studies on the impact of these medications on individuals with ADHD, and although there are side effects for sure.

You have the usual challenges that are associated with the growing independence of adolescents and the need for independence, but at the same time, a need for structure, you have that tension that you have under typical conditions ... interwoven with symptoms of a mental disorder. It exacerbates both things.

What you want to build in as much as possible is limited choices on the part of the teenager so that they feel that ... they are part of the decision-making process, but obviously within limits, it's not like a choice of we're going to go to a professional or we're not. It's we're going to a professional but you can take the lead or I can take the lead. What would you prefer?

I have, over the years, sometimes had to tell parents, 'Listen you have to suck it up' and risk having them hit the street briefly because they've got to get treatment.

The bottom line is, and you've probably heard this phrase before, it's kind of a cliche, but it's 'catch them being good', pay much more attention to the times when they're following the rules and they're meeting expectations.