Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Presentations to The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Consult...

The objective of the present study is to compare and contrast demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with and without ADHD referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Consult Clinic (CAMHUCC) in order to identify any differences between the patient groups and potentially improve care of these patients in the community.

This is retrospective cohort study of all children and adolescents, who were referred to the CAMHUCC between 2012 and 2014. Using data routinely collected at the clinic, individuals with ADHD were compared to individuals without ADHD. Data analysis was conducted using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations to describe participant demographic and clinical information, and comparisons between individuals with and without ADHD was made using Mann-Whitney U statistics.

Of the 803 urgent assessments at the clinic, 367 (45.7%) were diagnosed with ADHD. Individuals with ADHD were statistically significantly more likely to be younger, male, referred for aggression, and not living with both parents. Individuals with ADHD were also more likely to be referred for follow-up than those without ADHD, and were more likely to have had at least one previous admission to the CAMHUCC.

Individuals with ADHD account for a significant proportion of child and adolescent presentations to CAMHUCC. Provision of urgent psychiatric care to young people with ADHD represents a significant utilization of resources on health care in terms of initial assessment, higher rates of follow up care, need for risk assessment and referral to CMHA.