title: Service use patterns for adolescents with ADHD and comorbid conduct disorder.
abstract: Service use patterns and costs of youth diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid conduct disorder (CD) were assessed across adolescence (ages 12 through 17). Featured service sectors include mental health, school services, and the juvenile justice system. Data are provided by three cohorts from the Fast Track evaluation and are based on parent report. Diagnostic groups are identified through a structured assessment. Results show that public costs for youth with ADHD exceed $40,000 per child on average over a 6-year period, more than doubling service expenditures for a non-ADHD group. Public costs for children with comorbid ADHD and CD double the costs of those with ADHD alone. Varying patterns by service sector, diagnosis, and across time indicate different needs for youth with different conditions and at different ages and can provide important information for prevention and treatment researchers.
authors.affiliation: Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA. dejones@psu.edu
authors.forename: Damon E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: E Michael
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States