title: A study of pathway of care in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with impairment in all aspects of the patient's life. Despite availability of effective treatments for ADHD, a majority of the patient lack access to or have a significant delay in seeking help. This study aimed to assess the pathway of care in ADHD among patients attending the outpatient psychiatric services of a tertiary care centre in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  57 newly registered cases of the age group 6-16 years with the diagnosis of ADHD as per DSM-IV-TR criteria were included in the study. Pathway of care was assessed on the semi structured proforma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of delay in seeking help for ADHD symptoms was 3.96 Years (SD=1.96). Only 50% of the subjects consulted psychiatrists as first contact. Majority of the patients (45.61%) were referred by school teachers. Major reason given by the family members was that the patient was naughty rather than having any disorder for not seeking treatment in (89.47%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that there was lack of recognition of ADHD at the level of other qualified practitioners and subsequent delay in referral to CAMHS. Sociocultural beliefs affected the help seeking by the parents.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India. Electronic address: amitarya.11kgmu@gmail.com.
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Arya
authors: Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Agarwal
authors: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India.
authors: Suresh
authors: S
authors: Yadav
authors: Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Pawan Kumar
authors: PK
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Manu
authors: M
authors: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Children and adolescents; Pathway of care