ADHD service use patterns in youth.
OBJECTIVE
To review what is currently known about service use by youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and discuss research and policy implications.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
The primary care, mental health, and educational service system sectors all play an essential role in caring for youth with ADHD. Recent studies also suggest increasing use of stimulants and other psychoactive medication for youth with ADHD, decreasing mental health visits for ADHD unassociated with medication use, increased use of other psychotropic medications, and a number of barriers to care coordination across primary care, mental health, and schools.


CONCLUSIONS
Four important services, research, and policy areas that need to be addressed over the next decade include: 1) delving deeper into current service use, 2) paying attention to the context in which service use occurs, 3) operationalizing evidence-based care for real-world settings, and 4) learning what changes clinician and educator behavior.
Leslie
Laurel K
LK
Child and Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC), Pediatrics Department at the University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. lleslie@casrc.org
Wolraich
Mark L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009819:Office Visits; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012572:School Health Services
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs