Faraone, SV; Banaschewski, T; Coghill, D; Zheng, Y; Biederman, J; Bellgrove, MA; Newcorn, JH; Gignac, M; Al Saud, NM; Manor, I; Rohde, LA; Yang, L; Cortese, S; Almagor, D; Stein, MA; Albatti, TH; Aljoudi, HF; Alqahtani, MMJ; Asherson, P; … Wang, Y
Background: Misconceptions about ADHD stigmatize affected people, reduce credibility of providers, and prevent/delay treatment. To challenge misconceptions, we curated findings with strong evidence base.
Methods: We reviewed studies with more than 2000 participants or meta-analyses from five or more studies or 2000 or more participants. We excluded meta-analyses that did not assess publication bias, except for meta-analyses of prevalence. For network meta-analyses we required comparison adjusted funnel plots. We excluded treatment studies with waiting-list or treatment as usual controls. From this literature, we extracted evidence-based assertions about the disorder.
Results: We generated 208 empirically supported statements about ADHD. The status of the included statements as empirically supported is approved by 80 authors from 27 countries and 6 continents. The contents of the manuscript are endorsed by 366 people who have read this document and agree with its contents.
Conclusions: Many findings in ADHD are supported by meta-analysis. These allow for firm statements about the nature, course, outcome causes, and treatments for disorders that are useful for reducing misconceptions and stigma.
