ADHD medication linked to lower risk of suicidal behaviours, study suggests

Methylphenidate was the most commonly used ADHD drug among the nearly 150,000 people whose records were used for the study. Photograph: Bill Truran/Alamy

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication is linked to significantly lower risk of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, according to a study of the wider outcomes of treatment.

The research, based on the medical records of nearly 150,000 people in Sweden, suggested that the drugs could have meaningful benefits beyond helping with the core symptoms of ADHD.