Prevalence and Diagnosis Rates of Childhood ADHD Among Racial-Ethnic Groups in a Public Mental Health System

This study estimated the proportions of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white and black children ages three to 17 with a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) receiving services from the New York State public mental health system (NYS PMHS) and their annual treated ADHD prevalence rates. Findings were compared with those of recent national studies of general population samples.

Data were from a 2011 survey of users of NYS PMHS nonresidential services. Adjusted odds ratios compared the probability of an ADHD diagnosis among the groups by age, gender, and insurance type. Prevalence rates were compared among groups by age and gender.

An estimated 133,091 children used the NYS PMHS, of whom 31% had an ADHD diagnosis. The prevalence rate of ADHD among whites was significantly lower than that among Hispanics or blacks in all gender and age groups except Hispanic females ages 13 to 17. White children were significantly less likely than black children to receive an ADHD diagnosis.

National studies have reported higher ADHD rates among white children. Compared with children in the NYS PMHS, those in national studies had multiple access points to care, including private psychiatrists and clinicians and primary care practitioners. The higher reported ADHD rates in national studies may reflect higher rates of private insurance among white children, which would increase the likelihood of their using private practitioners. Cultural factors that influence whether and where care is sought and whether practitioners appropriately diagnosis ADHD may also explain the difference in findings.