ADHD Research News
New ADHD research studies referenced in this week's ADHD in the News:
- Bellato, Alessio, et al. “Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Effects of Pharmacological Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Quality of Life.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (May 29, 2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.05.023.
- Referenced in “Both Stimulant and Non-Stimulant ADHD Medications Improve Quality of Life (Psychiatry Advisor, June 25, 2024)”
- Bellia, Giselle, et al. “Family History of Psychiatric Conditions and Development of Siblings of Children with Autism.” Autism Research (June 19, 2024): 1-12. DOI: 10.1002/aur.3175.
- Referenced in “Family history of mental health disorders linked to developmental outcomes in siblings of autistic children (News-Medical.net, June 24, 2024)”
- Boyd, Kaylee, et al. “Interactive Effects of Racism and Racial Centrality on ADHD Symptoms.” Journal of Attention Disorders (May 28, 2024). DOI: 10.1177/10870547241256453.
- Referenced in “Racism May Exacerbate ADHD Symptoms Among Black Adults (Psychiatry Advisor, June 21, 2024)”
- Shimabukuro, Shizuka, et al. “A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Well Parent Japan in Routine Care in Japan: The Training and Nurturing Support for Mothers (TRANSFORM) Study.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (June 3, 2024). DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14007.
- Referenced in “New program aims to reduce the strain on caregivers of children with ADHD (News-Medical.net, June 4, 2024)”
- Siddiqui, Uzma, et al. “Sex Differences in Diagnosis and Treatment Timing of Comorbid Depression/Anxiety and Disease Subtypes in Patients With ADHD: A Database Study.” Journal of Attention Disorders (May 16, 2024). DOI: 10.1177/10870547241251738.
- Referenced in “The Prevalence of ADHD Subtypes Significantly Differ by Sex (Psychiatry Advisor, June 26, 2024)”
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17 Years: United States, 2020–2022
NCHS Data Brief No. 499, March 2024
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020–2022, finds that 11.3% of children ages 5-17 in the U.S have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. See the breakdown by age group, race, ethnicity, family income, and insurance coverage at General Prevalence of ADHD.
Who Provides Outpatient Clinical Care for Adults With ADHD? Analysis of Healthcare Claims by Types of Providers Among Private Insurance and Medicaid Enrollees, 2021
Journal of Attention Disorders, March 18, 2024
This study from CDC researchers and CHADD PAB co-chair, Craig Surman, MD, finds that family practice physicians, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners/psychiatric nurses were the most common providers for adults using employer-sponsored insurance, although the distribution of provider types varied across states. Lower percentages of adults with Medicaid received ADHD care from physicians. Approximately half of adults receiving outpatient ADHD care received ADHD care by telehealth.
ADHD medication and risk of cardiovascular diseases
Commentary by CHADD PAB member, Russell J. Schachar, MD, on Zhang et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, JAMA Psychiatry, November 22, 2023.
Trends in Stimulant Prescription Fills Among Commercially Insured Children and Adults—United States, 2016-2021
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2023
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Summary:
What is already known about this topic?
Prescriptions for stimulants, primarily used to treat attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were increasing for adults before the COVID-19 pandemic. Policies enacted during the pandemic expanded access to prescription stimulants via telehealth.
What is added by this report?
The percentage of adolescent and adult females and adult males receiving prescription stimulant fills increased during 2016-2021, particularly during 2020-2021.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Growing recognition of ADHD in adults and increases in prescription stimulant fills raise questions about current adult ADHD care. Development of clinical recommendations for diagnosing and managing adult ADHD could help guide safe and appropriate stimulant prescribing. Evaluation of policies enacted during the pandemic could identify benefits and harms of those policies.