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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment with stimulant medication by age and sex, NSW 1 December 2003, 2005 and 2007
Age(years)
Males 		2003
Females
Persons
Males 		2005
Females
Persons
Males 		2007
Females
Persons
Number 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
3 12 4 16 15 3 18 5 2 7
4 91 17 108 93 24 117 46 10 56
5 245 47 292 232 55 287 174 39 213
6 514 107 621 541 138 679 418 101 519
7 845 185 1,030 833 194 1,027 697 177 874
8 1,029 262 1,291 1,028 280 1,308 936 246 1,182
9 1,230 296 1,526 1,237 280 1,517 1,097 271 1,368
10 1,290 304 1,594 1,269 315 1,584 1,135 291 1,426
11 1,309 287 1,596 1,315 296 1,611 1,193 265 1,458
12 1,295 306 1,601 1,342 304 1,646 1,204 297 1,501
13 1,300 239 1,539 1,230 267 1,497 1,208 252 1,460
14 1,138 236 1,374 1,136 273 1,409 1,119 275 1,394
15 884 221 1,105 960 211 1,171 941 206 1,147
16 663 143 806 707 195 902 699 197 896
17 456 127 583 502 172 674 516 153 669
18-19 515 192 707 549 189 738 564 206 770
20-24 568 252 820 614 257 871 612 274 886
25-29 264 147 411 287 184 471 359 178 537
30-39 461 302 763 519 306 825 496 300 796
40-49 369 289 658 411 289 700 421 263 684
50 and over 247 181 428 332 192 524 326 207 533
2-17 12,301 2,781 15,082 12,441 3,007 15,448 11,389 2,782 14,171
18 and over 2,424 1,363 3,787 2,712 1,417 4,129 2,778 1,428 4,206
All ages 14,725 4,144 18,869 15,153 4,424 19,577 14,167 4,210 18,377
Per cent 2 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
3 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.01
4 0.20 0.04 0.12 0.21 0.06 0.13 0.10 0.02 0.06
5 0.55 0.11 0.33 0.51 0.13 0.32 0.39 0.09 0.25
6 1.13 0.25 0.70 1.21 0.32 0.77 0.93 0.24 0.59
7 1.85 0.43 1.16 1.86 0.45 1.17 1.53 0.41 0.98
8 2.22 0.59 1.42 2.26 0.65 1.47 2.08 0.57 1.34
9 2.64 0.67 1.68 2.71 0.64 1.70 2.43 0.63 1.55
10 2.75 0.68 1.74 2.73 0.71 1.74 2.48 0.67 1.60
11 2.76 0.64 1.73 2.82 0.67 1.77 2.60 0.61 1.63
12 2.73 0.68 1.73 2.85 0.68 1.80 2.58 0.66 1.64
13 2.74 0.53 1.67 2.59 0.60 1.62 2.58 0.57 1.60
14 2.46 0.54 1.52 2.39 0.60 1.52 2.37 0.61 1.51
15 1.94 0.51 1.24 2.02 0.47 1.27 1.96 0.46 1.24
16 1.45 0.33 0.90 1.52 0.44 1.00 1.46 0.43 0.96
17 0.98 0.29 0.64 1.09 0.39 0.75 1.06 0.33 0.71
18-19 0.55 0.22 0.39 0.59 0.21 0.41 0.60 0.23 0.42
20-24 0.25 0.11 0.18 0.26 0.11 0.19 0.25 0.12 0.19
25-29 0.11 0.06 0.09 0.13 0.08 0.10 0.15 0.08 0.11
30-39 0.09 0.06 0.08 0.11 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.06 0.08
40-49 0.08 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.06 0.07 0.09 0.05 0.07
50 and over 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02
2-17 1.67 0.40 1.05 1.70 0.43 1.08 1.55 0.40 0.99
18 and over 0.10 0.05 0.07 0.11 0.05 0.08 0.11 0.05 0.08
All ages 0.46 0.13 0.29 0.46 0.13 0.30 0.43 0.12 0.27
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Note

Data are based on authorities issued to specialist doctors for individual patients and prescriptions written by specialist doctors granted a general authority to prescribe to patients who meet specified criteria.

Source

Pharmaceutical Drugs of Addiction System, Pharmaceutical Service Branch, NSW Department of Health, and ABS population estimates (HOIST), Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, NSW Department of Health.

Commentary

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition, characterised by the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. As these behaviours can be seen to some degree in most children at some time, diagnosis of ADHD requires assessment by an experienced clinician. Children with ADHD may experience difficulties at school, social problems, and long-term consequences such as poor academic achievement and antisocial behaviour (Salmelainen, 2002). ADHD may affect up to 11% of Australian children aged 6-17 years, and boys are affected at least twice as frequently as girls (Sawyer et al., 2000).

Up to 90% of children who are treated with stimulant medication experience a reduction in symptoms. In NSW, the prescribing of stimulant medication for treatment of ADHD is restricted to specialist prescribers.

The rate of treatment with stimulant medication in 2007 was about 1% of all children aged 2-17 years. The highest rates of treatment occur in children aged 10 to 13 years, and the treatment rate for boys is about 4 times that for girls. A significant proportion of children continue to experience ADHD symptoms into adulthood. Physical hyperactivity is much less evident in adult ADHD.

In 2007, the treatment rate for adults (ie. persons aged 18 year or over) was 0.08%, representing about 8 per 10,000 adults. The rate of treatment for men was about 2 times that for women.

Treatment rates differ also by geographical region, which may be due to availability of assessment and treatment services, variations in prescriber practices, differences in treatment retention rates, variations in the prevalence and persistence of the disorder, and socioeconomic factors (Salmelainen, 2004).

ADHD symptoms can also be treated with atomoxetine and antidepressants. Non-medication treatments include behavioural parent training and classroom interventions. Adults with ADHD may also gain benefit from other strategies such as environmental restructuring (eg. using a daily planner, using a checklist), communication skills training, and anger management training (Salmelainen, 2004).

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For more information

Salmelainen P. Trends in the prescribing of stimulant medication for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adolescents in NSW. N S W Public Health Bull 2002; 13(S-1).

Sawyer M, Arney FM, Baghurst PA et al. Mental health of young people in Australia. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 2000.

Salmelainen P. Trends in the prescribing of stimulant medication for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adults in NSW. N S W Public Health Bull 2004; 15(S-3).

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This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.

Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).

Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.

Last updated on 15 December 2008

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