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Pediatrics

ADHD Treatment Gap: Study Reveals Low Rates of Behavioral Therapy in Children

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics has found that fewer than one-half of children ages 4 to 17 with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were receiving behavioral therapy in the years before established treatment guidelines were published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The study, which analyzed data from the 2009-2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), revealed that 74% of children with ADHD were taking medication in the past week, while 82.6% had taken medication in the past year. The study also found that almost one in four preschoolers were receiving treatment with medication alone, and that children with ADHD who lived in the Midwest (compared with the West) or were aged more than 12 years (compared with those aged 4-5 years) were less likely to have taken dietary supplements within the past year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 45.3% of children with ADHD were receiving behavioral therapy in the years before established treatment guidelines were published by the AAP.
  • 74% of children with ADHD were taking medication in the past week, while 82.6% had taken medication in the past year.
  • Almost one in four preschoolers (23.5%) were receiving treatment with medication alone.
  • Children with ADHD who lived in the Midwest (compared with the West) or were aged more than 12 years (compared with those aged 4-5 years) were less likely to have taken dietary supplements within the past year.
  • The study found significant state-to-state variability in the type of treatment used to treat ADHD in children ages 4-17, with rates of medication treatment ranging from 57% in California to 88% in Michigan.
  • Rates of behavioral therapy among children with ADHD ranged from 33 percent in Tennessee to 61 percent in Hawaii.
  • The study suggests that potential barriers to behavioral therapies might include difficulty in finding providers, insurance issues, and a lack of awareness among parents and providers about the guidelines.
  • The CDC is working with professional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association to disseminate the AAP treatment guidelines for children with ADHD.

Statistics:

  • 82.6% of children with ADHD had taken medication in the past year.
  • 74% of children with ADHD were taking medication in the past week.
  • 23.5% of preschoolers with ADHD were receiving treatment with medication alone.
  • 10.2% of children with ADHD took dietary supplements for ADHD in the past year.
  • 6.4% of children with ADHD took dietary supplements for ADHD in the past week.
  • Rates of medication treatment among children with ADHD ranged from 57% in California to 88% in Michigan.
  • Rates of behavioral therapy among children with ADHD ranged from 33% in Tennessee to 61% in Hawaii.

Sources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
  • National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN).
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for ADHD treatment.

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