Examining why patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder lack adherence to medication over the long term: a review and analysis.

Objective: To investigate the reasons why patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) adhere poorly to medications over the long term (≥ 1 year).

Data Sources: PubMed was reviewed for studies between 1997 and January 2015 citing the reasons for medication nonadherence using these main keywords: ADHD, amphetamine, methylphenidate, atomoxetine, guanfacine, clonidine, long term, and adverse effects. Non-English language articles were excluded as were those that had a follow-up of < 1 year.