ADHD medication use and risk of self-harm: a multinational self-controlled case series study - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Association Between ADHD Medication and Self-Harm Risk: A Multinational Self-Controlled Case Series Analysis

  • By

  • Adrienne Y L Chan

  • Kebede Beyene

  • Sohee Park

  • Chin-Yao Shen

  • Andrew S C Yuen

  • Kirstie H T W Wong

  • Shiu Lun Au Yeung

  • Esther W Chan

  • David Coghill

  • Celine S L Chui

  • Sharon Cook

  • Stephen Crystal

  • Patrick Ip

  • Tatia M C Lee

  • Wallis C Y Lau

  • Xue Li

  • Terry Y S Lum

  • Hao Luo

  • Nirmala Rao

  • Andrew Tomlin

  • Li Wei

  • Yun K Wing

  • Amy H Y Chan

  • Edward Chia-Cheng Lai

  • Ju-Young Shin

  • Kenneth K C Man

  • Ian C K Wong

  • September 12, 2026

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  • 1

    The study evaluated self-harm risk associated with ADHD medication across multiple healthcare systems from 2001 to 2020.

  • 2

    Among 461,024 individuals on ADHD medication, 6,847 experienced self-harm events during the observation period.

  • 3

    Self-harm risk peaked in the 90 days before treatment initiation, with a pooled adjusted IRR of 2.58.

  • 4

    The risk was lower during the initial 90 days of treatment (IRR: 1.78) and lowest during later treatment periods (IRR: 1.27).

  • 5

    Findings suggest that ADHD medications are unlikely to be the primary driver of self-harm, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis and monitoring.

Original Source(s)

ADHD medication use and risk of self-harm: a multinational self-controlled case series study

  • by Adrienne Y L Chan, Kebede Beyene, Sohee Park, Chin-Yao Shen, Andrew S C Yuen, Kirstie H T W Wong, Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Esther W Chan, David Coghill, Celine S L Chui, Sharon Cook, Stephen Crystal, Patrick Ip, Tatia M C Lee, Wallis C Y Lau, Xue Li, Terry Y S Lum, Hao Luo, Nirmala Rao, Andrew Tomlin, Li Wei, Yun K Wing, Amy H Y Chan, Edward Chia-Cheng Lai, Ju-Young Shin, Kenneth K C Man, Ian C K Wong

  • September 12, 2026

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