Section - Quick Takes

03. Medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Risk for Suicide Attempts

Published on December 1, 2020 Expired on April 1, 2023

James Phelps, M.D.

Research Editor - Psychopharmacology Institute

Key Points

Stimulant medications were associated with a 30% reduction in suicide attempt rate (although the base rate is low, 0.1% of males and 0.2% of females over 4 years).

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Might stimulant medications increase suicidal ideation or attempts? This question has been raised, examined, and reexamined for antidepressants but not for stimulants, except for atomoxetine, which in 2005 received an FDA black box warning for increased suicidal ideation in children and adolescents.

Major depression increases the risk of suicide. It turns out that ADHD nearly doubles the risk of suicide relative to controls, according to a 2017 review. Of course, if the control rate is low, then the doubling is still a small number. Nevertheless, given that treating depression decreases suicide risk, including treatment with antidepressants, we can ask, might treatment with stimulants decrease suicide risk? Studying this would be challenging given that the numbers will be small, especially if we study suicide attempts, not incipient suicidal ideation as in most of the antidepressant studies that the FDA used for its warning.

Given that the number of attempts will likely

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04. Cardiac Abnormalities Identified With Echocardiography in Anorexia Nervosa: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Learning Objectives:

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:

Rank-order antipsychotics by their metabolic effects and evaluate their impact on cardiovascular risk in people with schizophrenia.
Determine the value of distinguishing behavioral and cognitive impairment in patients at risk of progression to dementia.
Compare suicide attempt rates in patients with a diagnosis of ADHD, on or off stimulant medications.
Examine the cardiac abnormalities associated with anorexia nervosa and their degree of resolution with weight restoration.
Consider the many ways in which COVID-19 worsens substance use problems. Clinicians may be aware of many of these, but it is still useful to see all in one place the full list from experienced authors.

Original Release Date: 12/01/2020

Review and Re-release Date: 03/01/2023

Expiration Date: 04/01/2023

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

The following planners, faculty, and reviewers have the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Dr. Phelps has disclosed the following relationships:

McGraw-Hill: book on bipolar disorder
W.W. Norton & Co.: books on bipolar disorder

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

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Participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted above.

Follow these steps to earn CME credit:

View the required educational content provided on this course page.
Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
Download your certificate.

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.