ADHD in international adoptees: a national cohort study

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Previous research suggests higher attention/hyperactivity symptoms in international adoptees.
• Population-based data on ADHD medication prevalence in this group are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of ADHD medication use in Swedish international adoptees compared to the general population.
• To investigate gender, age at adoption, and region of origin as predictors of ADHD medication use.
• To inform tailored support strategies for international adoptees.

Main Methods:

• National cohort study of Swedish residents born 1985-2000.
• Comparison between 16,134 international adoptees and 1,326,090 Swedish-born individuals.
• ADHD medication data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (2006); logistic regression analysis.

Main Results:

• International adoptees had significantly higher rates of ADHD medication use than the comparison population (Boys: 5.3% vs. 1.5%; Girls: 2.1% vs. 0.3% for ages 10-15).
• Elevated odds ratios for ADHD medication were observed across all regions of origin, particularly for Eastern Europe, Middle East/Africa, and Latin America.
• Risk increased with higher age at adoption and was further amplified by adjusting for maternal education and single parenthood.

Conclusions:

• International adoptees exhibit a higher prevalence of ADHD medication use, with notable regional variations.
• Adoptees from Eastern Europe face a particularly high risk, necessitating specialized identification and support.
• A moderately increased risk in other adoptee groups warrants communication to parents and healthcare professionals.