BACKGROUND: Stimulants are an important part of the treatment of ADHD. The present study examines the prescribing of stimulants for ADHD in Nordland County in 2004 compared to data from 1999. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Individual prescription data were retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) for 1.1.2004-30.06.2004. Sales figures for stimulants in Nordland and Norway as a whole were retrieved from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for the period 1999-2004. RESULTS: In 2004, 487 children aged 4-17 years (1.1% of the age-group) and 68 adults received at least one prescription of stimulants. The prevalence was highest among 10-13 year-olds; 0.8% in girls and 2.4% in boys. Boys represented 78% of the users <18 years. Child psychiatrists prescribed to half of the children, and adult psychiatrists prescribed to 74% of the adults. Sale of stimulants in defined daily doses has increased 5-fold from 1999 to 2004. INTERPRETATION: This increase in stimulant prescribing must be viewed in the light of the increasing number of physicians working in child psychiatry coupled with the development of better neuropsychological services. These changes may have contributed to an increase in the number of children diagnosed with ADHD and consequently an increase in children treated with stimulants.
BACKGROUND: Stimulants are an important part of the treatment of ADHD. The present study examines the prescribing of stimulants for ADHD in Nordland County in 2004 compared to data from 1999. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Individual prescription data were retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) for 1.1.2004-30.06.2004. Sales figures for stimulants in Nordland and Norway as a whole were retrieved from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for the period 1999-2004. RESULTS: In 2004, 487 children aged 4-17 years (1.1% of the age-group) and 68 adults received at least one prescription of stimulants. The prevalence was highest among 10-13 year-olds; 0.8% in girls and 2.4% in boys. Boys represented 78% of the users <18 years. Child psychiatrists prescribed to half of the children, and adult psychiatrists prescribed to 74% of the adults. Sale of stimulants in defined daily doses has increased 5-fold from 1999 to 2004. INTERPRETATION: This increase in stimulant prescribing must be viewed in the light of the increasing number of physicians working in child psychiatry coupled with the development of better neuropsychological services. These changes may have contributed to an increase in the number of children diagnosed with ADHD and consequently an increase in children treated with stimulants.