Danielson ML, et al. - This paper incorporated characterization of the lifetime and current rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) therapies among US children and adolescents with current ADHD. Furthermore, researchers elucidated the connection of these treatments with demographic and clinical factors. It was reported that maximum enrollees received medication and school supports. In contrast, fewer received recommended psychosocial interventions. Efforts to increase access to psychosocial treatments could assist in closing gaps in service use by groups currently that were less likely to receive treatment. This was vital for ensuring quality treatment for millions of school-aged US children diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods

• Data was extracted from the 2014 National Survey of the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD and Tourette Syndrome, a follow-back survey of parents from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health.
• Weighted analyses targeted the receipt of ADHD treatment among children aged 4-17 years with current ADHD (n = 2495) by 4 treatment types.
• These treatment types were medication, school supports, psychosocial interventions, and alternative treatments.

Results

• The most common treatments received were determined to be medication and school supports, with two-thirds of children and adolescents with ADHD currently receiving each treatment.
• It was observed that social skills training was the most common psychosocial treatment ever received (39%), followed by parent training (31%), peer intervention (30%), and cognitive behavioral therapy (20%).
• Among the enrollees, 9% were currently taking dietary supplements, and 11% had ever received neurofeedback.
• Atleast 2 of the following treatment was recieved by maximum children (67%): Current medication treatment, current school supports, or lifetime psychosocial treatment.
• It was also noted that 7% had received none of these 3 treatment types.