ADHD, medication and quality of life: what the study really says (and what the headlines got wrong)

If you’ve seen recent stories claiming “children on ADHD medication have a lower quality of life,” you’re not alone. It’s a big, worrying headline—especially if you’re a parent already juggling treatment decisions. Let’s slow this down and look at what was actually studied, why the media framing is misleading, and how to make sense of it for your family.

The study in a nutshell

Australian researchers analysed data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, following more than 4,000 children over 13 years. They looked at ADHD symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across childhood and adolescence. As you’d expect, kids with significant ADHD symptoms had lower average HRQoL than kids without symptoms—no surprise given ADHD brings real challenges at home, school and with peers. The authors also explored factors linked with lower HRQoL (e.g., co-occurring conditions, caregiver mental health) and noted an association with being on ADHD medication. Crucially, they warned this medication finding should be treated with caution because the medicated subgroup was small. SAGE JournalsRACGP9News

Why “medication lowers quality of life” is not a fair takeaway

Three big reasons:

1. Correlation ≠ causation
   This was an observational study. It can spot patterns, not prove that one thing causes another. Kids who end up on medication usually have more severe ADHD and more impairment to begin with—a classic case of confounding by indication. If more-affected kids are the ones taking medicine, they may also start (and remain) with lower HRQoL for reasons unrelated to the medicine itself. The authors themselves flagged this nuance; several news pieces missed it or buried it. RACGP9News

2. Very small medicated sample
   The medication analysis was based on a small number of medicated participants in this dataset, especially in early childhood. Small cells produce unstable estimates—one or two children can swing results. The study and RACGP summary both caution against over-interpreting this point. RACGP

3. Multiple other factors matter—often more
   Lower HRQoL was also linked with co-occurring conditions (e.g., autism), being female, and caregiver mental health difficulties—all of which complicate the picture. In contrast, kids with two or more siblings tended to have better HRQoL—again highlighting that family and social context matter. Headlines that isolate “medication” ignore the broader ecosystem kids live in. RACGP

What does the wider evidence say about ADHD medication and quality of life?

When you zoom out to controlled trials (where groups are more comparable), medication tends to improve symptoms and shows small-to-moderate improvements in quality-of-life measures on average—especially as part of a multimodal plan that includes behavioural, educational and family supports. Recent meta-analytic work and major guideline summaries point in this direction, even while noting individual variability. ScienceDirectSpringerLink

How media coverage amplified worry

Some outlets ran with simple cause-and-effect language (“medication lowers QoL”) or led with alarming banners without front-footing the caveats above. Even where caution was mentioned, it often sat halfway down the page or in the final paragraph—well after the fear had landed. A more balanced summary (including the RACGP piece) noted the small medication subgroup and urged caution, but the snappier TV/online clips still tended to over-simplify. RACGP9News

What this does mean for families in Perth

• ADHD affects wellbeing. That’s real and worthy of support.

• Medication isn’t the villain. This study can’t tell us that medicine reduces quality of life. The “medication” signal is confounded by severity and small numbers.

• Whole-family, multimodal care works best. Address ADHD symptoms and the environment: school supports, routines, sleep, physical activity, parent wellbeing, and skills coaching. That’s where the gains add up. RACGP

Practical questions to ask your GP or psychologist

• “Given my child’s profile (symptoms, strengths, co-occurring conditions), what would a stepwise multimodal plan look like here in WA?”

• “If we trial medication, how will we measure benefits and side-effects (teacher/parent ratings, sleep, appetite, mood, school feedback)?”

• “What non-pharmacological supports can we add now (classroom accommodations, behavioural strategies, parent coaching, sleep and activity plans)?”

• “How can we support caregiver mental health and reduce family stressors that may be impacting our child?” RACGP

Bottom line

This Australian study adds to an important conversation about ADHD and wellbeing—but it does not show that ADHD medication causes lower quality of life. The medicated subgroup was small, and the children on medication were likely those with greater difficulties to begin with. Decades of controlled research suggest medication can help many children when it’s individualised and embedded within a broader support plan. Before headlines, always ask: Is there causation here? How big was the subgroup? What else could explain the finding? SAGE JournalsRACGPScienceDirect

Sources for readers who want to dig deeper

• Original paper (Journal of Attention Disorders, 2025) – longitudinal Australian cohort examining ADHD symptoms and HRQoL; authors caution about the small medicated subgroup and observational limitations. SAGE Journals

• RACGP news summary (12 Aug 2025) – notes the small medication sample and emphasises holistic care. RACGP

• Nine News coverage (Aug 2025) – typical broadcast framing; includes a line about cautious interpretation but headlines implied more certainty. 9News

• JAACAP 2024/25 meta-analysis (medication & QoL) – RCT-based evidence showing small-to-moderate QoL improvements with ADHD medication on average. ScienceDirect

Why are Psychologists Important in the Post-COVID era?

COVID-19 pandemic halted the entire world in its tracks in March of 2020. In rising to the challenge of an epidemic, governments and health organizations pushed for lockdowns with everyone being confined to their living spaces. Social distancing and isolation helped save many lives by preventing the transfer of the novel coronavirus, but it also made hundreds of people around the globe more vulnerable to mental health issues.

The impact of this pandemic on physical health was cosmic and the impact on mental health has also been substantial. People with existing mental health disorders saw a further decline in their health and high-risk people developed these disorders through the span of the pandemic. 

As the initial shock of the pandemic begins to wind down, it’s important to tackle these issues and there need to be healthcare providers available to help those who need it. Psychologists, moreover counselling psychologists, are key in helping people manage their emotions and feelings. Psychologists can also help patients process the change the world has gone through with the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted their mental wellbeing.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Briefly put, COVID-19 causes a rift between people and their ability to cope with change, especially since social isolation and lockdown policies took away many typical coping mechanisms. The reaction of people to the COVID-19 pandemic alone has ranged from feelings of hopelessness and helplessness to panic and hysteria (think toilet paper hoarding).

In addition to this, many people haven’t been able to cope how they normally would, especially those belonging to vulnerable or marginalized groups, as they often had less access to social supports. These people may indeed be at risk of developing mental health challenges and may need the help of psychologists to help them process these feelings in the post COVID era. In the meanwhile, demand on psychologists has been high with waiting lists to access services often lengthy.

The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the economy of the world, with multiple markets crashing and putting many people out of work. Joblessness further exaggerates the feeling of hopelessness and is associated with negative outcomes such as suicidal ideation, depression, stress, and anxiety. Many people put their worth and identity in their careers and when that isn’t present anymore, (alongside being locked at home giving them ample time to overthink), they experience a sense of grief and loss. It alters how they view the world and themselves.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the powerlessness people have experienced in the face of this pandemic has actually worsened in some cases by mandatory behavioural change. Examples of this are lockdowns, border closures across states and the vaccine policy being introduced. Whilst acceptance of Australia’s vaccine policy has increased statistically at least, misinformation continues to pervade people’s newsfeeds spreading fear and conspiracy-based thinking .

Some age groups and demographics are more vulnerable  to negative psychological impacts than others. These groups include high school and university students, young people who live alone, and the elderly. These are populations who may have the least amount of social support (or conversely a heavy reliance on social supports) and willingness or means to see a psychologist, important protective factors from the negative psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has already been a surge in people attempting to access psychologists since the COVID-19 pandemic and this will no doubt continue. There needs to be an equal rise in the number of therapists to help these patients come to terms with the psychosocial changes that the world has gone through. The basic human need for emotional support and processing of feelings and thoughts is a necessary component of this. Supporting patients objectively process their decision to vaccinate and the feelings that arise around an effectively mandatory vaccination program is yet another area where psychologists can help.

Guest Blog - For The Heart Cries- A commentary on suicide by Thomas Truelson

Trigger warning - Suicide. If you are thinking about suicide please contact emergency services, lifeline, or your mental health practitioner. Let someone know. The antithesis to the below is the process of reaching out and getting support outside of the secrecy that suicidal ideation commands.

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one through suicide this particular blog may be helpful for you.

 “The Warning Signs: We have all read the warning signs, the indicators and clues, of a person thinking of suicide. Unfortunately, we have recognized those signs only in hindsight - after the tragic death of our loved one.

And that is because suicide is planned silently and in secret. The art of deception - the person planning a suicide becomes an actor, skilled in delicate deception and adapting a brilliant disguise - that is well within oneself.

A person considering suicide is quite capable and inventive in expressing a genuine interest in a future they no plans of inhabiting. And when that fateful day arrives, the suicide will usually occur during the course of the person's daily and regular routine.

Suicide is difficult to prevent because the warning signs, more often than not, become visible only after the tragedy. 

The silent secret of suicide, the art of delicate deception.

As seen on PostSecret: People Don't Fake Depression, They Fake Being OK!

Remember those words.”

Reference - http://fortheheartcries.blogspot.com/

This blog was written by a person who had considered ending their life and their recovery journey. It is not intended as therapy nor a replacement for therapy.

Essential Sleep Hygiene Habits for Better Mental Health

Guest post generously submitted by Cheryl Conklin

Sleep and mental health are intricately linked. When your sleep suffers, so does your mental well-being. But mental health issues can also make it difficult to get the amount of high-quality sleep you need to feel your best. It’s a vicious cycle that can be tough to break. If you’re looking for ways to sleep better and improve your mental health, a good place to start is by adopting healthy sleep hygiene habits. Here are some resources to help you out!

Get Help for Mental Health Concerns

Mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and ADHD have been shown to cause or worsen sleeping problems.

• Working with a trained psychologist like Tristan Abba can help you get to the root of your sleep concerns and improve your mental health from the inside.

• Mindfulness meditation may be effective in mediating anxiety and symptoms of depression.

• Simply talking to a friend or loved one about your mental concerns can also help.

Practice Healthy Daytime Habits

How you spend your day can have a significant impact on your sleep quality. Healthy habits like exercising and eating clean will improve your sleep and your mental health.

• Exercise will improve your sleep by helping you burn off energy and alleviate anxiety.

• A clean, well-balanced diet can combat insomnia by ensuring your body has all the nutrients it needs to produce sleep-promoting hormones.

Avoid Stimulating Activities Before Bed

Watching exciting movies, reading stressful emails, or working out right before bed can leave your mind and body too wound up to relax.

• Try not to consume alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine in the hours right before bed.

• Stay away from digital entertainment that can overstimulate your brain — writing work emails and reading the news included!

Stick to a Regular Sleep Schedule

When you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, your body will get into a rhythm. This makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up feeling rested.

• Plan to go to bed early enough that you will get at least 7 hours of shuteye before your alarm rings.

• Create a bedtime routine that will help you get to bed on time every night.

• If you need to make up for missed sleep, don’t sleep in on the weekend. A short afternoon nap can help you recover your energy without disrupting your sleep schedule.

Nothing beats the feeling you get after a good night's sleep. What if you could wake up every morning feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day? Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or you just want to sleep your way to better health, improving your sleep should be your number one priority!

Sleep deprivation is a common symptom of many different mental disorders. If you want to talk to a professional about your mental health concerns, contact Tristan Abba today.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Medicare Update to Mental Health Care Plans

Image courtesy of UpSplash

 

Medicare have announced that available sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan have now doubled, from 10 per calendar year to 20. This change comes for all individuals eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan. I welcome this initiative at this time of year when many of my clients often run out of sessions on their initial plan.

Previously 10 sessions was the maximum amount an individual could utilise to access the Medicare rebate for, in a single calendar year. With the new increase in sessions, individuals can now return to their doctor after the 10th session to be referred for an additional 10 sessions, enabling individuals to access the Medicare rebate for up to 20 sessions per calendar year under a Mental Health Care Plan.

This increase in available sessions will remain in place until at least 2022.