Study design, baseline patient characteristics and intervention in a cross-cultural framework: results from the ADORE study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the methodology and to present the baseline findings of the Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder Observational Research in Europe (ADORE) study, the primary objective of which is to describe the relationship between treatment regimen prescribed and quality of life of children with ADHD in actual practice.


METHODS
In this 2-year prospective observational study, data on diagnosis, prescribed treatment and outcomes of ADHD were collected at seven time points by paediatricians and child psychiatrists on 1,573 children recruited in 10 European countries. The data presented here from the 1,478 patients included in the analyses describe the baseline condition, initial treatment regimen prescribed and quality of life of families with children with ADHD.


RESULTS
Patients had a mean age of 9.0 years (SD 2.5) and 84% were male. Physicians diagnoses were made using DSM-IV (43%), ICD-10 (32%) and both DSM-IV and ICD-10 (12%). Mean age of awareness of a problem was 5.1 years, suggesting an average delay of approximately 4 years between awareness and diagnosis of ADHD. Baseline ADHD rating scale scores (physician-rated) indicated moderate to severe ADHD. Parent-rated SDQ scores were in agreement and suggested significant levels of co-existing problems. CGI-S, CGAS and CHIP-CE scores also indicated significant impairment. Patients were offered the following treatments after the initial assessment: pharmacotherapy (25%), psychotherapy (19%), combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy (25%), other therapy (10%) and no treatment (21%).


CONCLUSIONS
The ADORE study shows that ADHD is similarly recognised across 10 European countries and that the children are significantly impaired across a wide range of domains. In this respect, they resemble children described in previous ADHD samples.
Preuss
Ulrich
U
Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bern University, Effingerstrasse 12, 3011, Bern, Switzerland. Ulrich.preuss@kjp.unibe.ch
Ralston
Stephen J
SJ
Baldursson
Gisli
G
Falissard
Bruno
B
Lorenzo
Maria J
MJ
Rodrigues Pereira
Rob
R
Vlasveld
Laurens
L
Coghill
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003710:Demography; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome