Medication Prescribed Too Quickly for Young Children with ADHD, New Study Finds

A new Stanford Medicine-led study has brought to light a concerning trend in how preschool-aged children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are treated. According to the research published in JAMA Network Open, many young children—specifically 4- and 5-year-olds—are being prescribed ADHD medications almost immediately after diagnosis, despite medical guidelines recommending a different approach.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that families of young children with ADHD first try six months of behavior therapy before starting any medication. The study, which analyzed medical records of nearly 10,000 young children across eight pediatric health networks in the United States, revealed that this recommended delay often does not happen. Instead, stimulant medications are frequently prescribed right away.

Lead author Dr. Yair Bannett emphasized why this is problematic: young children’s bodies do not fully metabolize stimulant drugs, which can lead to more side effects in this age group than in older children. These side effects include increased irritability, emotional reactivity, and aggression. Furthermore, many families discontinue the treatment because the side effects outweigh perceived benefits.

Behavior therapy is shown to have substantial positive effects not only on children but also on their families. Early and effective treatment of ADHD is essential to help children at risk for academic challenges and to improve their long-term outcomes, such as employment stability and social relationships.

The study highlights the gap between clinical guidelines and real-world practice in pediatric ADHD treatment, calling for increased awareness and adherence to recommended behavioral interventions before medication for young children.

This recent study is an important reminder for parents, pediatricians, and caregivers to consider behavioral approaches first for very young children diagnosed with ADHD, reserving medication as a later step when truly needed.

Title: “ADHD drugs are being prescribed too quickly to preschoolers”
Published by: Stanford Medicine
Date: August 28, 2025
Link: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/08/adhd-preschoolers.html