Agents for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder - an update

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychological disorder affecting children and adolescents, whose symptoms often persist into the adult years, and is often effectively treated with stimulants. Recently, non-stimulant medications that demonstrate better toleration and administration have been studied in clinical settings and some have been approved. Yet, there continues to be strong emphasis in many research groups to find even more efficacious and safer alternatives, especially with substances that function through novel, non-stimulatory mechanisms. A review of the progress achieved during the last 4 years, determined from the publication of patents and patent applications, is presented.