In an effort to help one of the most under studied groups of sufferers of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers at University of Rhode Island and Lehigh University have kicked off the first-ever controlled pharmacological study for treatment of ADHD amongst college students.
The study is being conducted by Lisa Weyandt, associate professor of psychology at University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI) and George DuPaul, professor of school psychology and chair of the department of education and human services at Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA), with funding from Shire Development Inc.
Approximately 2 to 4 percent of college-age students report significant symptoms of ADHD such as difficulty with attention, impulse control and restlessness. ADHD is one of the most common disorders of childhood, but symptoms of ADHD often linger into adulthood. Relative to the body of information available regarding childhood ADHD, less is known about ADHD in adults, and even less is known about college students with ADHD.
“We know a lot about childhood and adult ADHD but the college-age student population is under studied,” said Weyandt. “College students with ADHD are at greater risk for academic and psychological difficulties. They are also in a unique developmental context at this stage of their lives, when they are expected to live and act independently.”
According to DuPaul, colleges and universities offer many resources to help students with ADHD from a functional standpoint; however, by studying the use of medication, the researchers seek to look at the impact of the medication to treat the symptoms of ADHD.