Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults

Suzanne McCarthy; Philip Asherson; David Coghill; Chris Hollis; Macey Murray; Laura Potts; Kapil Sayal; Ruwan de Soysa; Eric Taylor; Tim Williams; Ian C. K. Wong

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045245

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults

Suzanne McCarthy, Philip Asherson, David Coghill, Chris Hollis, Macey Murray, Laura Potts, Kapil Sayal, Ruwan de Soysa, Eric Taylor, Tim Williams, Ian C. K. Wong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

164 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

Symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are known to persist into adulthood in the majority of cases.

Aims

To determine the prevalence of methylprienidate, dexamfetamine and atomoxetine prescribing and treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults.

Method

A descriptive cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database included patients aged 15-21 years from 1999 to 2006 with a prescription for a study drug.

Results

Prevalence of prescribing averaged across all ages increased 6.23-fold over the study period. overall, prevalence decreased with age: in 2006, prevalence in males dropped 95% from 12.77 per 1000 in 15-year-olds to 0.64 per 1000 in 21-year-olds. A longitudinal analysis of a cohort of 44 patients aged 15 years in 1999 demonstrated that no patient received treatment after the age of 21 years.

Conclusions

The prevalence of prescribing by general practitioners to patients with ADHD drops significantly from age 15 to age 21 years. The fall in prescribing is greater than the reported age-related decrease in symptoms, raising the possibility that treatment is prematurely discontinued in some Young adults in whom symptoms persist.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	273-277
Number of pages	5
Journal	British Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	194
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045245
Publication status	Published - Mar 2009

Keywords

PRACTICE RESEARCH DATABASE
DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
FOLLOW-UP
PREVALENCE
CHILDREN
UK
METAANALYSIS
ADHD
MTA

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10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045245

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title = "Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults",

abstract = "BackgroundSymptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are known to persist into adulthood in the majority of cases.AimsTo determine the prevalence of methylprienidate, dexamfetamine and atomoxetine prescribing and treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults.MethodA descriptive cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database included patients aged 15-21 years from 1999 to 2006 with a prescription for a study drug.ResultsPrevalence of prescribing averaged across all ages increased 6.23-fold over the study period. overall, prevalence decreased with age: in 2006, prevalence in males dropped 95% from 12.77 per 1000 in 15-year-olds to 0.64 per 1000 in 21-year-olds. A longitudinal analysis of a cohort of 44 patients aged 15 years in 1999 demonstrated that no patient received treatment after the age of 21 years.ConclusionsThe prevalence of prescribing by general practitioners to patients with ADHD drops significantly from age 15 to age 21 years. The fall in prescribing is greater than the reported age-related decrease in symptoms, raising the possibility that treatment is prematurely discontinued in some Young adults in whom symptoms persist.",

keywords = "PRACTICE RESEARCH DATABASE, DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, FOLLOW-UP, PREVALENCE, CHILDREN, UK, METAANALYSIS, ADHD, MTA",

author = "Suzanne McCarthy and Philip Asherson and David Coghill and Chris Hollis and Macey Murray and Laura Potts and Kapil Sayal and {de Soysa}, Ruwan and Eric Taylor and Tim Williams and Wong, {Ian C. K.}",

year = "2009",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045245",

language = "English",

volume = "194",

pages = "273--277",

journal = "British Journal of Psychiatry",

issn = "0007-1250",

publisher = "Royal College of Psychiatrists",

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T1 - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

T2 - treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults

AU - McCarthy, Suzanne

AU - Asherson, Philip

AU - Coghill, David

AU - Hollis, Chris

AU - Murray, Macey

AU - Potts, Laura

AU - Sayal, Kapil

AU - de Soysa, Ruwan

AU - Taylor, Eric

AU - Williams, Tim

AU - Wong, Ian C. K.

PY - 2009/3

Y1 - 2009/3

N2 - BackgroundSymptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are known to persist into adulthood in the majority of cases.AimsTo determine the prevalence of methylprienidate, dexamfetamine and atomoxetine prescribing and treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults.MethodA descriptive cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database included patients aged 15-21 years from 1999 to 2006 with a prescription for a study drug.ResultsPrevalence of prescribing averaged across all ages increased 6.23-fold over the study period. overall, prevalence decreased with age: in 2006, prevalence in males dropped 95% from 12.77 per 1000 in 15-year-olds to 0.64 per 1000 in 21-year-olds. A longitudinal analysis of a cohort of 44 patients aged 15 years in 1999 demonstrated that no patient received treatment after the age of 21 years.ConclusionsThe prevalence of prescribing by general practitioners to patients with ADHD drops significantly from age 15 to age 21 years. The fall in prescribing is greater than the reported age-related decrease in symptoms, raising the possibility that treatment is prematurely discontinued in some Young adults in whom symptoms persist.

AB - BackgroundSymptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are known to persist into adulthood in the majority of cases.AimsTo determine the prevalence of methylprienidate, dexamfetamine and atomoxetine prescribing and treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults.MethodA descriptive cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database included patients aged 15-21 years from 1999 to 2006 with a prescription for a study drug.ResultsPrevalence of prescribing averaged across all ages increased 6.23-fold over the study period. overall, prevalence decreased with age: in 2006, prevalence in males dropped 95% from 12.77 per 1000 in 15-year-olds to 0.64 per 1000 in 21-year-olds. A longitudinal analysis of a cohort of 44 patients aged 15 years in 1999 demonstrated that no patient received treatment after the age of 21 years.ConclusionsThe prevalence of prescribing by general practitioners to patients with ADHD drops significantly from age 15 to age 21 years. The fall in prescribing is greater than the reported age-related decrease in symptoms, raising the possibility that treatment is prematurely discontinued in some Young adults in whom symptoms persist.

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KW - FOLLOW-UP

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KW - METAANALYSIS

KW - ADHD

KW - MTA

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DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045245

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SN - 0007-1250

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EP - 277

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

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ER -

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: treatment discontinuation in adolescents and young adults

Abstract

Keywords

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