Recently Storebø et al (2015a) published a Cochrane systematic review on the efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate (MPH) in children and adolescents for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a summary of which was then published in the BMJ (Storebø et al, 2015b). In recent years, numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have consistently demonstrated the high degree of efficacy of stimulants, such as MPH, for the treatment of ADHD. Consequently, those making treatment recommendations, such as the UK NICE guidelines (NICE, 2008), have identified MPH as a first-line treatment for school-age children with moderate to severe ADHD. Hence, the new Storebø et al review has generated controversy as it has challenged the quality of this prior evidence-base and suggests that there is significant uncertainty about the effectiveness of methylphenidate for the treatment of ADHD.