Pharmacotherapy of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder has evolved parallel to the understanding of the disorder. Over the decades, treatment concerns have expanded from a primarily behavioral focus to include prosoc ial interactions and cognitive and executive functions. Although the bulk o f the vast literature documents the short-term efficacy of stimulants, rece nt studies have begun to examine long-term effects. In addition to the stim ulants, there is a considerable amount of literature indicating an importan t role for other catecholaminergic agents and promising new findings in cho linergic agents.