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This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it.

EV0085

Stimulant treatment in adolescents with ADHD and co-occurring anxiety: reassessing a clinical paradigm

STIMULANT TREATMENT IN ADOLESCENTS WITH ADHD AND COMORBID ANXIETY: REVISITING A CLINICAL PARADIGM

Current evidence does not support a consistent anxiety-increasing effect of stimulants in adolescents with ADHD and suggests that carefully managed treatment may improve overall functioning.

The aim is to review evidence from 2021 to 2025 on anxiety outcomes during stimulant treatment in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and co-occurring anxiety. The method is a narrative review using PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar, prioritizing systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized trials. The background notes that stimulants have traditionally been used cautiously because of concerns that they may worsen anxiety, while ADHD itself may contribute to emotional vulnerability and daily stress. Current evidence indicates no consistent worsening; anxiety generally remains stable or may improve. The clinical pathway proposed in the poster is that treating ADHD improves attention and executive control, which reduces daily stress and leads to better functional and emotional outcomes. As an important exception, a subgroup may experience a transient increase in anxiety during treatment initiation or dose adjustment, highlighting the need for gradual dose titration and monitoring. The clinical interpretation focuses on three points: anxiety alone should not automatically preclude stimulant treatment; improvements in attention and executive control may reduce academic and social stressors; and careful titration and monitoring are necessary during treatment initiation and dose changes. In conclusion, stimulants do not consistently worsen anxiety in adolescents with ADHD, and appropriately managed treatment may improve emotional and functional outcomes; avoiding treatment solely because of anxiety may leave functional impairment and emotional difficulties unaddressed. A balanced, individualized approach integrating monitoring and psychotherapeutic strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended.

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