Prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder among elementary school children in Johnston County, North Carolina.
OBJECTIVE
This study estimated the prevalence of medication treatment for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among elementary school children in a North Carolina county.


METHODS
Parents of 7333 children in grades 1 through 5 in 17 public elementary schools were asked whether their child had ever been given a diagnosis of ADHD by a psychologist or physician and whether their child was currently taking medication to treat ADHD. Parents of 6099 children (83%) responded.


RESULTS
By parental report, 607 children (10%) had been given an ADHD diagnosis and 434 (7%) were receiving ADHD medication treatment. Seventy-one % of the diagnosed children were receiving medication. Treatment rates varied by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade.


CONCLUSIONS
If treatment patterns observed in this study are representative, the public health impact of ADHD may be underestimated.
Rowland
Andrew S
AS
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. arowland@salud.unm.edu
Umbach
David M
DM
Stallone
Lil
L
Naftel
A Jack
AJ
Bohlig
E Michael
EM
Sandler
Dale P
DP
D017677:Age Distribution; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants