title: Management of ADHD in children across Europe: patient demographics, physician characteristics and treatment patterns.
abstract: This study was a retrospective chart review performed to examine and describe physician practice patterns in managing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across Europe. Physicians treating ADHD in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain were recruited. Each physician abstracted medical records of five patients (aged 6-17 years at time of review) with a documented diagnosis of ADHD made between January 2004 and June 2007. Data provided by the physician via the abstraction included (a) physician characteristics, (b) patient characteristics, (c) ADHD diagnosis and (d) ADHD outcomes (adherence, symptom control and satisfaction). A total of 779 patients met study inclusion criteria. In the overall population, patients' mean (SD) age at time of diagnosis was 8.9 (2.6) years. The predominant treatment choice was long-acting methylphenidate, which was prescribed to more than 56 % of patients. According to physicians, only 30.8 % of patients showed 'complete symptom control' on current treatment and only 31.8 % of physicians reported being 'very satisfied' with their patients' current treatment. Physicians' assessments of complete symptom control and physician satisfaction with treatment were low, indicating unmet needs with current ADHD management in Europe.
authors: Shire Development, LLC, 725 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Wayne, PA 19087, USA. phodgkins@shire.com
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Hodgkins
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Setyawan
authors: Debanjali
authors: D
authors: Mitra
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: Davis
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Quintero
authors: Moshe
authors: M
authors: Fridman
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Shaw
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Harpin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate