Anonymous Questionnaire for AD(H)D Patients

MIND, Methylphenidate Investigation: Needs & Data

Medications such as Ritalin, Equasym, Medikinet, and others are used worldwide by many people with AD(H)D. These medications, which contain methylphenidate as the active substance, can help improve concentration and daily functioning. At the same time, they may cause side effects.

With the MIND study, we want to look beyond the existing research. Our central research question is:
“Is it wise to start children on methylphenidate at a young age?” Don’t get me wrong—I believe that people with AD(H)D deserve equal opportunities and have the right to show their strengths. I simply wonder whether it is truly necessary to begin medication at such a young age.

Let me explain my reasoning. Before puberty, children are still in the midst of their development. The medication can have serious side effects, but it also provides great support for people with AD(H)D. During puberty, AD(H)D symptoms become much more pronounced. Teenagers not only undergo physical changes, but their brains are also still developing. Hormones, in my view, play a big role in the expression of these symptoms. I want to explore whether it might be wiser to start medication just before puberty (around age 11–12).

My second goal is to give people with AD(H)D an honest and objective picture of both the benefits and drawbacks of this medication. That way, they can make a more informed decision about whether they want to take it.

To investigate this, we will look at both the positive and negative aspects of methylphenidate.
We will do this through:

Questionnaires for people with AD(H)D
Interviews with psychiatrists, therapists, experts by experience, AD(H)D patients, and their families
Research into the substance itself
A review of existing studies

We won’t only examine the impact on well-being, sleep, and appetite, but also the broader context.
For example, the economic significance of this medication:

In which countries is methylphenidate prescribed more often?
Are prescriptions motivated by public health concerns, or also by economic interests of pharmaceutical companies?

The MIND project is carried out by Thibault wyffels, in collaboration with Groepspraktijk La Lys. It is my senior thesis at Sint-Barbaracollege. Through a weekly blog, I will keep you updated on the progress. This project will run for an entire school year and aims to contribute to the debate on methylphenidate—not only from a scientific perspective but also from the experiences of people who live with this medication every day.

We need your help to create an honest and complete picture of the positive and negative sides of methylphenidate. That’s why we ask not only people with an AD(H)D diagnosis to participate, but also their close relatives and friends. Your experiences are essential. Only together can we work toward a balanced and meaningful solution—and hopefully change the way we look at methylphenidate.