Treatment for young people with ADHD

News release from NETSCC, HTA

13 January 2010

There is uncertainty around the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents and young adults and a need for more research in this area suggests research published by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme.

There is increasing evidence to suggest that ADHD is no longer a condition affecting childhood alone. Previous studies have shown that it can persist into adulthood in a significant proportion of patients. What is currently unknown is the extent to which adolescents and young adults continue with medication as they get older, the reasons for treatment cessation, and the experience of patients undergoing cessation. Also current marketing authorisations caution against the long-term use of these drugs without expert review.

Professor Ian Wong of the School of Pharmacy, the University of London led a two-part study to review current practice in treating patients with ADHD. Researchers used the General Practice Research Database to identify the prescribing prevalence of ADHD treatments in patients aged 15-21 and to calculate how long patients remained on treatment. They also conducted interviews with patients who were either still receiving treatment, had successfully stopped treatment, or were unsuccessful in trying to stop. Clinicians were also interviewed to explore experiences and feelings regarding the process of treatment cessation and the subsequent outcomes.

The study found that as the age of patients increased there was a decrease in the prescribing of drug treatment for ADHD. However, this fall was greater than the reported age related decrease in ADHD symptoms. The second part of the study identified that some young adults had difficulty in accessing specialist services and treatments after they had been discharged from paediatric services.

“The results of our study suggest there is a possibility that treatment is prematurely discontinued in some young adults where ADHD symptoms persist,” says Professor Wong. “The information provided by this report identifies gaps in the evidence base and a need for further research to improve the care of young people with this condition.”

The full results of this study published in Health Technol Assess 2009; Vol 13:50. To view and download the report visit www.hta.ac.uk/1513

Notes for editors

 1. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme commissions research about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest NIHR programme and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with over 530 issues published to date. The journal’s 2009 Impact Factor (4.197) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk

2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk

Contact details

Naomi Williams, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: N.E.Williams@southampton.ac.uk

Emma Sunderland, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 599 094, Email: E.Sunderland@southampton.ac.uk

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