ADHD Medication Use Shows Demographic Variations

Rates were higher in adolescents and were lower in black and Hispanic children and in those from uninsured families.

Stimulants are the most highly prescribed pediatric psychotropic medications, and examining patterns of use of this treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can yield important targets for clinical attention. Researchers examined diagnostic self-report data from a federally sponsored U.S. survey involving five interviews conducted over 2 years in a nationally representative household sample. The researchers matched medication histories to pharmacy records and analyzed data on children aged 18 or younger by age (≤5, 6–12, and 13–18 years) and by sex, ethnicity, household income, geography, health insurance, and symptom severity.

Household response rates ranged from 57% to 70%, and 85% of pharmacies participated. Overall r…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose