The prestigious
New England Journal of Medicine recently dedicated significant and noteworthy space to a research review of the pharmacologic treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD)
1 from Samuele Cortese, M.D., Ph.D. In the
NEJM‘s September issue, Dr. Cortese summarized the most notable findings of the last decade related to use of medications for ADHD, their efficacy, side effects, and safety.
Medication Use in ADHD
Reported in the article was a study of prescription databases that revealed that the prevalence of ADHD medication use increased from 2001 to 2015.
2 The average relative percentage increase in the United States was 2.83% per year. Follow-up periods of a systematic review revealed the average length of treatment with stimulants was 136 days in children and 230 days in adults.
Janssen Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for SPRAVATO? (Esketamine Nasal Spray) for the Rapid Reduction of Depressive Symptoms in a Psychiatric Emergency for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
vs 20.4%), respectively.
6 There is a pressing need to provide individuals with Major Depressive Disorder who are experiencing a psychiatric emergency with treatments that can rapidly reduce their depressive symptoms, said Bill Martin, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Neuroscience, Janssen Research Development, LLC. If approved by the European Commission, esketamine nasal spray has the potential to offer individuals relief from debilitating depressive symptoms and address a key unmet need within this population.
With this positive CHMP opinion, esketamine nasal spray will now be considered by the European Commission for adults with a moderate to severe episode of MDD, as acute, short term treatment, for the rapid reduction of depressive symptoms, which according to clinical judg