Sawyer Michael G, Rey Joseph M, Graetz Brian W, Clark Jennifer J, Baghurst Peter A
Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.
Med J Aust. 2002 Jul 1;177(1):21-5. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04624.x.
To examine the prevalence of psychotropic medication use by children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and children without ADHD. To identify factors associated with stimulant use by children in the community.
A representative, multistage probability sample of Australian households was conducted in 1998. Parents completed questionnaires assessing children's mental health problems and health-related quality of life. They also completed a structured interview to identify children's psychiatric disorders and their use of medications during the previous six months.
Parent or main caregiver of 3597 children aged 6-17 years.
Rates of use of stimulants (dexamphetamine and methylphenidate), antidepressants and clonidine by children.
Overall, 1.8% of children (95% CI, 1.5%-2.3%) were receiving stimulant medication. Of those with ADHD, 12.6% (95% CI, 9.8%-16.1%) were being treated with stimulants, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.3%-4.3%) with antidepressants, and 1.9% (95% CI, 1.0%-3.7%) with clonidine. Among children without ADHD, 0.5% (95% CI, 0.3%-0.8%) were receiving stimulant medication. This represented 22.9% (95% CI, 14.6%-34.0%) of all the children who were receiving stimulants. Variables significantly associated with stimulant use were being male, having ADHD, attending a paediatrician, and having higher scores on the Aggressive Behaviour and Attention Problems scales on the Child Behaviour Checklist.
About 13% of Australian children with ADHD, and a substantial number of children without ADHD, are taking stimulants. The question of whether Australian children are being undertreated or overtreated with stimulant medication depends on the criteria used to assess the appropriateness of stimulant use. Additional information is needed to clarify when stimulants should be used to treat ADHD.
调查患有注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的儿童和未患ADHD的儿童使用精神类药物的情况。确定社区中与儿童使用兴奋剂相关的因素。
1998年对澳大利亚家庭进行了具有代表性的多阶段概率抽样调查。家长完成问卷，评估儿童的心理健康问题和与健康相关的生活质量。他们还完成了一次结构化访谈，以确定儿童的精神疾病以及他们在过去六个月内的用药情况。
3597名6至17岁儿童的家长或主要照顾者。
儿童使用兴奋剂（右旋苯丙胺和哌醋甲酯）、抗抑郁药和可乐定的比例。
总体而言，1.8%的儿童（95%可信区间，1.5%-2.3%）正在接受兴奋剂药物治疗。在患有ADHD的儿童中，12.6%（95%可信区间，9.8%-16.1%）正在接受兴奋剂治疗，2.3%（95%可信区间，1.3%-4.3%）正在接受抗抑郁药治疗，1.9%（95%可信区间，1.0%-3.7%）正在接受可乐定治疗。在未患ADHD的儿童中，0.5%（95%可信区间，0.3%-0.8%）正在接受兴奋剂药物治疗。这占所有接受兴奋剂治疗儿童的22.9%（95%可信区间，14.6%-34.0%）。与使用兴奋剂显著相关的变量包括男性、患有ADHD、看儿科医生以及在儿童行为检查表的攻击行为和注意力问题量表上得分较高。
约13%的澳大利亚ADHD儿童以及大量未患ADHD的儿童正在服用兴奋剂。澳大利亚儿童使用兴奋剂药物是治疗不足还是治疗过度，这一问题取决于用于评估兴奋剂使用适当性的标准。需要更多信息来明确何时应使用兴奋剂治疗ADHD。
