Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME: Take the course for this article: AJP CME Course for September 2009: Sudden Death and Use of Stimulant Medica... Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Articles by Gould, M. S. Articles by Cooper, T. PubMed Citation Articles by Gould, M. S. Articles by Cooper, T. Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Amphetamines Related Article

Sudden Death and Use of Stimulant Medications in Youths

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine whether a significant association exists between the use of stimulants and the rare event of sudden unexplained death in children and adolescents. METHOD: A matched case-control design was performed. Mortality data from 1985–1996 state vital statistics were used to identify 564 cases of sudden death occurring at ages 7 through 19 years across the United States along with a matched group of 564 young people who died as passengers in motor vehicle traffic accidents. The primary exposure measure was the presence of amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, or methylphenidate according to informant reports or as noted in medical examiner records, toxicology results, or death certificates. RESULTS: In 10 (1.8%) of the sudden unexplained deaths it was determined that the youths were taking stimulants, specifically methylphenidate; in contrast, use of stimulants was found in only two subjects in the motor vehicle accident comparison group (0.4%), with only one involving methylphenidate use. A significant association of stimulant use with sudden unexplained death emerged from the primary analysis, which was based on exact conditional logistic regression (odds ratio=7.4, 95% CI=1.4 to 74.9). A comprehensive series of sensitivity analyses yielded qualitatively similar findings. CONCLUSIONS: This case-control study provides support for an association between the use of stimulants and sudden unexplained death among children and adolescents. Although sudden unexplained death is a rare event, this finding should be considered in the context of other data about the risk and benefit of stimulants in medical treatment.

Related Article:

In This Issue
Am J Psychiatry 2009 166: A16. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. McLeod, T. Laubscher, L. Regier, and B. Jensen Taking the stress out of individualizing ADHD drug therapy Can Fam Physician, September 1, 2009; 55(9): 895 - 898. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Vitiello and K. Towbin Stimulant Treatment of ADHD and Risk of Sudden Death in Children Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2009; 166(9): 955 - 957. [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us