title: Age-specific prevalence, incidence of new diagnoses, and drug treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of new diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and assess drug treatment of ADHD in the 3-17 year age group in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD) for the years 2004-2006. The GePaRD includes claim records of 14,000,000 members of four statutory health insurances, representing 17% of the German population. The assessment of ADHD diagnoses was based on International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) codes in outpatient and hospital data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2005, the age-standardized prevalence and incidence of new diagnoses were 2.5% and 9/1000 person-years, respectively. Both measures were 3-4 times higher for males than for females. Incidence of new ADHD diagnoses increased linearly up to the age of 8 years for boys and 9 years for girls and decreased abruptly thereafter. In the calendar quarter of the initial ADHD diagnosis, 9.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.9-9.8%) received methylphenidate or atomoxetine and 36.8% (95% CI 36.1-37.6%) received at least one prescription of either drug within the first year. Initiation of drug treatment and choice of drug were similar for both sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD is a common condition among children and youth in Germany. There are substantial differences by sex in the prevalence and incidence of new ADHD diagnoses, but only a small difference in drug treatment among those diagnosed with ADHD. A relatively low percentage of children receives drug treatment in the first year after the initial diagnosis of ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.forename: Angela A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kraut
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banaschewski
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schad-Hansjosten
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schreyer-Mehlhop
authors.forename: Edeltraut
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garbe
authors.forename: Rafael T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mikolajczyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D011437:Propylamines; D008774:Methylphenidate; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride