Mental Health in the United States: Prevalence of Diagnosis and Medication Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder --- United States, 2003

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), previously known as attention deficit disorder, is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by pervasive inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity that often results in substantial functional impairment (Box). Prevalence estimates of ADHD in school-aged children have ranged from 2% to 18% in community samples (1). Although stimulant medications are an effective first-line treatment for ADHD (2), concern persists regarding the possible side effects and long-term health outcomes associated with stimulant consumption (1). Estimating the number of children who have had ADHD diagnosed and are currently taking medication for the disorder is an important step toward understanding the overall burden of ADHD in the United States. Previously, population-based estimates of medication treatment for ADHD were not available or were limited by their lack of generalizability (3--5). To estimate rates of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and medication treatment for ADHD, CDC analyzed data from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, in 2003, approximately 4.4 million children aged 4--17 years were reported to have a history of ADHD diagnosis; of these, 2.5 million (56%) were reported to be taking medication for the disorder. Because both substantial health risks and benefits might be associated with medication treatment for ADHD, further study of this population of children with ADHD is needed.

NSCH is a survey about the physical and emotional health of civilian, noninstitutionalized, U.S. children aged <17 years (6). CDC conducted the 2003 NSCH during January 2003--July 2004 by using the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS). SLAITS allows for sampling from the National Immunization Survey sampling frame. One child was randomly selected from households with at least one child aged <17 years. Parents or guardians responded to survey items on behalf of 102,353 sample children (completion rate: 68.8%). NSCH data were weighted to estimate national and state-specific rates of ADHD diagnosis and medication treatment among children aged 4--17 years.

As a proxy for ADHD diagnosis, respondents were asked, "Has a doctor or health professional ever told you that [child] has attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, that is, ADD or ADHD?" If an ADHD diagnosis was indicated, respondents were asked, "Is [child] currently taking medication for ADD or ADHD?" Estimates of reported ADHD diagnosis, current medication treatment among those with ADHD, and current medication treatment for ADHD among all children aged 4--17 years were calculated. Rates of medication treatment for ADHD among all children aged 4--17 years were calculated by using the number of children currently receiving medication as the numerator and all families who responded to the ADHD diagnosis question (affirmatively or negatively) as the denominator. Statistical software was used to adjust for the complex sampling design of NSCH. Statistical significance was concluded for those comparisons yielding an alpha level <0.05. Seventy-four sample children were excluded from sociodemographic comparisons because of missing data on their sex.

Prevalence and national population estimates of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis were calculated and compared by selected sociodemographic characteristics (Table). In 2003, approximately 7.8% (4,418,000; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4,234,000--4,602,000) of U.S. children aged 4--17 years had ever had ADHD diagnosed. ADHD diagnosis was reported approximately 2.5 times more frequently among males than females (Figure 1). Prevalence of reported ADHD increased with age and was significantly lower among children aged 4--8 years compared with children aged >9 years (Table). The greatest prevalence was noted among males aged 16 years (14.9%) and females aged 11 years (6.1%). The prevalence of reported ADHD diagnosis was significantly higher among non-Hispanic, primarily English-speaking, and insured children. Moreover, prevalence rates were significantly higher for children in families in which the most highly educated adult was a high school graduate (or had completed 12 years of education), compared with children in families in which the most highly educated adult had a higher or lower level of education. ADHD diagnosis among males was reported significantly more often in families with incomes below the poverty threshold (<100%) than in families with incomes at or above the poverty threshold. Rates of reported diagnosis among females were not significantly different across the three levels of poverty. Prevalence varied substantially by state, from a low of 5.0% in Colorado to a high of 11.1% in Alabama (Figure 2).

In 2003, an estimated 4.3% (2,473,000; 95% CI = 2,338,000--2,607,000) of children aged 4--17 years were reported to have ever had an ADHD diagnosis and were taking medication for the disorder. Rates of medication treatment for ADHD varied by age and sex and ranged from 0.3% to 9.3% (Figure 1). Regardless of sex, the overall medication-by-age patterns were curvilinear, with prevalence of medication treatment for ADHD highest among children aged 9--12 years, compared with younger or older children (Table). Rates of medication treatment for ADHD followed the same pattern noted for ADHD diagnosis, such that males of all ages were more likely to have a reported history of ADHD diagnosis and to currently take medication for the disorder (Table). More males aged 6 years were taking medication for ADHD (4.3%) than females at any age (Figure 1). The highest rates of medication treatment for ADHD by sex and age were reported among males aged 12 years (9.3%) and among females aged 11 years (3.7%). Medication treatment rates were significantly higher among non-Hispanic, primarily English-speaking, and insured children. Geographic variability in prevalence of medication treatment ranged from a low of 2.1% in California to a high of 6.5% in Arkansas (Figure 2).

Nationally, 56.3% of children with reported ADHD diagnoses were being treated with medication at the time of the survey. The frequency of medication treatment among males and females with reported ADHD diagnoses was not significantly different (56.8% versus 55.0%, respectively). Rates of medication treatment among those with a reported diagnosis varied by state, ranging from 40.6% in California to 68.5% in Nebraska (median: [57.6%]).

Reported by: SN Visser, MS, CA Lesesne, PhD, Div of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC.

Editorial Note:

This report provides the most recent national and state-specific estimates of the prevalence of children aged 4--17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD. The findings indicate considerable variability in ADHD diagnosis by state of residence and certain sociodemographic characteristics. Certain state variation in ADHD diagnosis might be attributed to underlying state differences in diagnostic practice, sociodemographic characteristics, or both.

This report is also the first to document national and state-specific prevalence of medication treatment for ADHD using national survey data. Although ADHD is considered a chronic condition, to what extent the "ever" diagnosed rate reflects current levels of clinical symptomatology is unclear. However, because children with ADHD often are not treated with medication, current medication treatment prevalence can serve as a minimum estimate of overall ADHD prevalence.

Several factors affect determination of the most appropriate ADHD therapy for children; however, clinical treatment guidelines exist that recommend efficacious pharmacologic and behavioral interventions (7--8). NSCH does not assess use of ADHD treatments other than medication. Thus, the number of children with reported ADHD diagnoses who received other types of treatments is not known. Children in racial/ethnic minority populations and uninsured children were less likely than others to be taking medication for ADHD. Additional research is warranted to investigate differential patterns in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD across demographic and geographic strata.

The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First, because the data are based on parental reports of ADHD diagnosis and medication treatment, the accuracy of these reports are subject to recall bias, telephone survey selection biases, and other types of response errors. Second, the survey sampling design excluded institutionalized persons, who might have higher rates of ADHD and medication treatment. Third, the survey was only administered in English or Spanish and therefore excluded families speaking neither language. Finally, these data do not include undiagnosed ADHD or children without an ADHD diagnosis who are taking medication for similar symptoms.

This analysis was limited to two relevant NSCH questions pertaining to ADHD and cannot fully characterize current ADHD treatment patterns. No known national survey currently assesses ADHD-related impairment or the nature and extent of treatment for ADHD. Such data are necessary to characterize community care and might inform future public health action.

ADHD poses substantial costs both to families and society. The disorder has been associated with strained familial and peer relationships, suboptimal educational achievement, and increased risk for unintentional injuries (1,7,8). Health-care costs associated with ADHD are conservatively estimated at $3.3 billion annually (9). Moreover, persistent and negative side effects of stimulants have been documented, including sleep disturbances, reduced appetite, and suppressed growth, which might have important health implications for the millions of children who are currently taking medication for ADHD. Continued monitoring and community-based research activities that focus on sociodemographic and geographic variation in ADHD diagnosis and treatment are needed (10).

Acknowledgments

This report is based, in part, on contributions from Maternal Child Health Bur, Health Resources and Svcs Admin, US Dept of Health and Human Svcs. C Kennedy, MPH, R Perou, PhD, Div of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC.

References

1. Rowland AS, Lesesne CA, Abramowitz AJ. The epidemiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a public health view. Mental Retardation Developmental Disability Research Review 2002;8:162--70.
2. Jensen PS, Arnold LE, Richters JE, et al. A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:1073--86.
3. Cox ER, Motheral BR, Henderson RR, Mager D. Geographic variation in the prevalence of stimulant medication use among children 5--14 years old: results from a commercially insured US sample. Pediatrics 2003;111:237--43.
4. Safer DJ, Malever M. Stimulant treatment in Maryland public schools. Pediatrics 2000;106:533--9.
5. Rowland AS, Umbach DM, Stallone L, Naftel AJ, Bohlig EM, Sandler DP. Prevalence of medication treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among elementary school children in Johnston County, North Carolina. Am J Public Health 2002;92:231--4.
6. Blumberg SJ, Olson L, Frankel MR, Osborn L, Srinath KP, Giambo P. Design and operation of the National Survey of Children's Health, 2003. Vital Health Stat 2005;1(43).
7. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1997;36(10 Suppl).
8. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Quality Improvement, Subcommittee on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Clinical practice guideline: treatment of the school-aged child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics 2001;105:1158--70.
9. Birnbaum HG, Kessler RC, Lowe SW, et al. Costs of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the US: excess costs of persons with ADHD and their family members in 2000. Curr Med Res Opin 2005;21:195--205.
10. Lesesne C, Abramowitz A, Perou R, Brann E. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a public health research agenda. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2000. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/dadphra.htm.

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Date last reviewed: 8/31/2005