OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among elementary school children in a North Carolina county. METHODS: Parents of 7333 children in grades 1 through 5 in 17 public elementary schools were asked whether their child had ever been given a diagnosis of ADHD by a psychologist or physician and whether their child was currently taking medication to treat ADHD. Parents of 6099 children (83%) responded. RESULTS: By parental report, 607 children (10%) had been given an ADHD diagnosis and 434 (7%) were receiving ADHD medication treatment. Seventy-one % of the diagnosed children were receiving medication. Treatment rates varied by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade. CONCLUSIONS: If treatment patterns observed in this study are representative, the public health impact of ADHD may be underestimated.
OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among elementary school children in a North Carolina county. METHODS: Parents of 7333 children in grades 1 through 5 in 17 public elementary schools were asked whether their child had ever been given a diagnosis of ADHD by a psychologist or physician and whether their child was currently taking medication to treat ADHD. Parents of 6099 children (83%) responded. RESULTS: By parental report, 607 children (10%) had been given an ADHD diagnosis and 434 (7%) were receiving ADHD medication treatment. Seventy-one % of the diagnosed children were receiving medication. Treatment rates varied by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade. CONCLUSIONS: If treatment patterns observed in this study are representative, the public health impact of ADHD may be underestimated.
Authors: Laurel K Leslie; Jill Weckerly; John Landsverk; Richard L Hough; Michael S Hurlburt; Patricia A Wood Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Catherine A Fullerton; Arnold M Epstein; Richard G Frank; Sharon-Lise T Normand; Christina X Fu; Thomas G McGuire Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 3.084
Authors: Katharine E Zuckerman; Kimber M Mattox; Brianna K Sinche; Gregory S Blaschke; Christina Bethell Journal: Clin Pediatr (Phila) Date: 2013-09-10 Impact factor: 1.168