Methylphenidate Treatment and Risk of Psychotic Disorder

JAMA Psychiatry 2026 Open access

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Authors: Colm Healy, Kirstie O’Hare, Ulla Lång, Johanna Metsälä, Anna Pulakka, Jane McGrath, Maria Migone, Dolores Keating, Liana Romaniuk, David Gyllenberg, Eero Kajantie, George Perrett
+3 more Jennifer Hill, Felix Elwert, Ian Kelleher
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0152
Cited by: 2
References: 44

Abstract

Importance: Methylphenidate is the leading pharmacological treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood and adolescence. Individuals with ADHD have a higher risk of psychosis, but the long-term relationship between methylphenidate and risk of developing psychotic disorders is unknown. Objective: To estimate the relationship between methylphenidate treatment and the risk of nonaffective psychosis in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included instrumental variable analysis of data linkage from multiple national Finnish registries for all individuals born from 1987 to 1997 (n = 697 289). These registries were used to identify childhood and adolescent ADHD diagnoses (age

Fields of Study & Subjects

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Neuroethics Human Enhancement Biomedical Innovations

Publication details

Journal / source
JAMA Psychiatry
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Volume
83
Issue
6
Pages
611–611
Publication date
25 March 2026
Language
EN