Trends in medication treatment for ADHD.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines demographic trends in the use of medications to treat ADHD in adult and pediatric populations.

METHOD

Using pharmacy claims data for a large population of commercially insured Americans, the study measures ADHD treatment prevalence and drug use from 2000 to 2005.

RESULTS

In 2005, 4.4% of children (ages 0 to 19) and 0.8% of adults (ages 20 and older) used ADHD medications. Treatment rates were higher in boys (6.1%) than in girls (2.6%), but the rates for men and women were approximately equal (0.8%). During the period of the study, treatment prevalence increased rapidly (11.8% per year) for the population as a whole. Treatment rates grew more rapidly for adults than for children, more rapidly for women than for men, and more rapidly for girls than for boys.

CONCLUSION

Improved identification of ADHD in adult and female patients has contributed to rapid growth in ADHD medication use.