DrAlison Poulton

 Alison has a strong background in clinical management which has given her new insights which she brings to her research and teaching. These include the Mental Effort-Reward Imbalances Model, which was developed to explain the association to explain the association between ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). ODD is a condition that is difficult to manage and Alison has developed a therapeutic concept: Rules of ODD, which asserts the child's autonomy over their ODD.

There is substantial overlap between ADHD and obesity: symptoms of ADHD, such as inconsistent motivation and impulsiveness, with lack of meaningful consideration of the consequences of an action, are also common in obesity. The efficacy of the stimulants for treating obesity has long been recognised. Alison’s research team has been carrying out initial studies using dexamfetamine for treating obesity, as an inexpensive alternative to the newer GLP-1 agonists. Stimulants have the advantage that they enhance focus and motivation, a valuable adjunct to lifestyle therapy.

The 2023 Senate Inquiry uncovered widespread discontent with the inadequacy and cost of ADHD treatment in Australia. In the context of a research trial, Alison has been training GPs in the diagnosis and clinical management of ADHD at a specialised ADHD clinic. The trained GPs recruit to the study patients who they have diagnosed with ADHD and treat them independently in general practice.

Population-based data is important for evaluating the uptake and outcomes of therapy. Alison has collaborated in database research into  the relationship between stimulant medication and crime and mortality, and  the reproductive outcomes of women with previous stimulant treatment for ADHD.