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The prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-aged children is between 6% and 9%. As many as 40% of these children have coexisting mental health disorders, some of which involve aggressive behavior. These investigators analyzed whether stimulants, which are often prescribed for ADHD, have an effect on aggression. The authors performed a meta-analysis of 28 placebo-controlled studies of stimulant medications (methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine) in children with ADHD. In all the studies, quantitative data regarding the independent effect of stimulants on aggressive behavior were available.
Aggression was classified as overt (e.g., physical assault or severe temper tantrums) or covert (cheating, lying, vandalism…