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PSYCHOLOGY DISORDERS ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD, ADHD) :
MEDICAL PHARMACY PHARMACEUTICAL PHARMACOLOGY: DRUG:
Prescribed Stimulant Use for ADHD Continues to Rise Steadily
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Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:56:37 -0400
From: "NIH OLIB (NIH/OD)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Prescribed Stimulant Use for ADHD Continues to Rise Steadily
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, September 28, 2011, 12:01 a.m. EDT
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CONTACTS:
Colleen Labbe
NIMH Media Contact
301-443-4536
e-mail:
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Bob Isquith
AHRQ Media Contact
301-427-1539
e-mail:
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PRESCRIBED STIMULANT USE FOR ADHD CONTINUES TO RISE STEADILY
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NIH and AHRQ study finds pace of the rise has slowed in recent years
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The prescribed use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose slowly but steadily from 1996 to 2008,
according to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The study was
published online ahead of print Sept. 28, 2011, in the American Journal of
Psychiatry.
ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders, and can continue
through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying
focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and
hyperactivity (over-activity). The condition is frequently treated with
stimulants such as methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin), amphetamines (e.g.,
Adderall) or other types of medications. Behavioral therapies can also be
effective.
During the 1990s, stimulant prescription use increased significantly,
going from a prevalence rate among youth of 0.6 percent in 1987 to 2.7
percent in 1997, with the rate stabilizing around 2.9 percent in 2002.
Recent reports, however, suggest that the prescribed use of these
medications and the diagnosis of ADHD have continued to rise. Based on
the Health Resources and Services Administration's National Survey of
Children's Health, the percentage of children age 4-17 years diagnosed
with ADHD increased from 7.8 percent in 2003 to 9.5 percent in 2007.
"Stimulant medications work well to control ADHD symptoms, but they are
only one method of treatment for the condition. Experts estimate that
about 60 percent of children with ADHD are treated with medication," said
co-author Benedetto Vitiello, M.D., of NIH's National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH).
For this most recent survey, Dr. Vitiello and Samuel Zuvekas Ph.D., of
AHRQ examined data from the AHRQ-sponsored Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey, a nationally representative annual survey of U.S. households, to
determine prescribed stimulant use among children under age 19 from
1996-2008. They found a slow but steady increase-from 2.4 percent in 1996
to 3.5 percent in 2008.The rate grew an average of 3.4 percent each year,
which is substantially less than the growth rate between 1987 and 1996,
which averaged about 17 percent per year.
Overall, prescription use among 6-12-year-olds was highest, going from 4.2
percent in 1996 to 5.1 percent in 2008. But the fastest growth of
prescribed use occurred among 13-18-year-olds, going from 2.3 percent in
1996 to 4.9 percent in 2008. "This continuous increase among teens likely
reflects a recent realization that ADHD often persists as children age.
They do not always grow out of their symptoms," said Dr. Vitiello.
Prescription use among preschoolers remained very low at 0.1 percent from
2004 onward and decreased between 2002 and 2008, suggesting that stimulant
use among very young children continues to be disfavored. Boys continued
to be three times more likely to be prescribed a stimulant than girls, and
use among white children continued to be higher than among black or
Hispanic children (4.4 percent in 2008 among whites, compared to 2.9
percent in blacks and 2.1 percent in Hispanics). However, prescribed
stimulant use is increasing among racial and ethnic minorities, likely
suggesting more recognition of ADHD and acceptance of
psychopharmacological treatment among these groups, according to the
authors.
In addition, rates were substantially lower in Western states compared to
other regions of the nation, with no increase in recent years, a finding
consistent with other studies. In comparison, rates in the Northeast
increased from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 4.6 percent in 2008.
"These persistent differences in prescribed stimulant use related to age,
racial and ethnic background, and geographical location indicate
substantial variability in how families and doctors approach ADHD
treatment throughout the United States," said Dr. Zuvekas.
The researchers concluded that when comparing the rates of prescribed use
with the estimated prevalence of ADHD diagnosis, it appears that many
children with ADHD are not treated with stimulants. "The children with the
most severe symptoms are more likely to be taking stimulants. Those with
milder symptoms are more likely being treated with psychosocial treatments
or other non-stimulant medications," they said.
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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http://www.ahrq.gov
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is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. AHRQ's
mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of
health care for all Americans. AHRQ's research helps people make more
informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services.
The mission of the NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of
mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for
prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH
website
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http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
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About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical
research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary
federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and
translational medical research, and is investigating the causes,
treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more
information about NIH and its programs, visit
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http://www.nih.gov
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##
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This NIH News Release is available online at:
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/sep2011/nimh-28.htm
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Temple University
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