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Ethnic and regional differences in primary care visits for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Jack Stevens1, Jeffrey S Harman, Kelly J Kelleher

  • 1Division of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43213, USA. stevensj@chi.osu.edu

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|October 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Hispanic-American children were less likely to receive attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses or stimulant prescriptions compared to white-American children. Regional differences in ADHD treatment were also observed.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children.
  • Ethnic and regional variations in healthcare access and treatment are well-documented.
  • Understanding disparities in ADHD diagnosis and treatment is crucial for equitable care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine ethnic and regional differences in ADHD diagnoses and stimulant prescriptions among children in primary care.
  • To investigate disparities in other mental health diagnoses and psychotropic medication use in relation to ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 6 years (1995-2000) of data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).
  • Examined frequency of ADHD diagnoses, stimulant prescriptions, and other mental health diagnoses based on ethnicity and region.
  • Compared likelihood of receiving a diagnosis, prescription, or other mental health treatment.

Main Results:

  • Hispanic-American youths were less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis and/or stimulant prescription compared to white-American youths.
  • Stimulant prescriptions for children with ADHD were more frequent in the South and West regions than in the Northeast.
  • No ethnic differences were found in receiving psychotropic medication after an ADHD diagnosis or in receiving non-ADHD mental health diagnoses.

Conclusions:

  • Ethnic disparities exist in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in primary care settings.
  • These disparities appear specific to ADHD and not other mental health disorders broadly.
  • Addressing ethnic disparities in ADHD care is essential for improving child mental health outcomes.

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