Medication use and spending trends among children with ADHD in Florida's Medicaid program, 1996-2005

Trends in antipsychotic prescribing for approved and unapproved indications to Medicaid-enrolled youth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 2014 and 2018

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic prescribing to Medicaid-enrolled youth has been the target of numerous policy initiatives, including prior authorization and quality monitoring programs, which often target specific populations. Whether these efforts have changed the level or composition of antipsychotic prescribing is unclear.

METHODS

Using 2014-2018 administrative claims data for Medicaid enrollees aged 21 years and under in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we measured antipsychotic prescription fills overall and for youth without an approved indication (autism, bipolar disorder, or psychosis). We then assessed whether trends differed for populations that have been targeted by policy initiatives, including younger children and foster care-enrolled youth. We also identified the most common approved and unapproved indications and examined whether the treatment duration of antipsychotic prescriptions differed based on whether the youth had an approved or unapproved indication.

RESULTS

Overall, the number of Medicaid youth with an antipsychotic prescription fill halved between 2014 and 2018. Youth aged 17 years and under and foster care-enrolled youth, who were targeted by prior authorization and quality improvement efforts, experienced larger declines. Roughly half of prescriptions were for unapproved indications in both 2014 and 2018; the most common unapproved indication was ADHD, and the treatment duration was shorter for unapproved indications compared to approved indications.

CONCLUSIONS

Antipsychotic prescribing to Medicaid-enrolled youth is declining, particularly among populations that have been targeted by policy initiatives like prior authorization and quality monitoring programs. Despite the fact that these initiatives often assess diagnostic criteria, half of antipsychotic prescriptions were for unapproved indications in both 2014 and 2018. More research is needed to gauge whether this prescribing is appropriate.

Overdiagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Scoping Review

IMPORTANCE

Reported increases in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses are accompanied by growing debate about the underlying factors. Although overdiagnosis is often suggested, no comprehensive evaluation of evidence for or against overdiagnosis has ever been undertaken and is urgently needed to enable evidence-based, patient-centered diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in contemporary health services.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically identify, appraise, and synthesize the evidence on overdiagnosis of ADHD in children and adolescents using a published 5-question framework for detecting overdiagnosis in noncancer conditions.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

This systematic scoping review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews and Joanna Briggs Methodology, including the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies published in English between January 1, 1979, and August 21, 2020. Studies of children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years) with ADHD that focused on overdiagnosis plus studies that could be mapped to 1 or more framework question were included. Two researchers independently reviewed all abstracts and full-text articles, and all included studies were assessed for quality.

FINDINGS

Of the 12 267 potentially relevant studies retrieved, 334 (2.7%) were included. Of the 334 studies, 61 (18.3%) were secondary and 273 (81.7%) were primary research articles. Substantial evidence of a reservoir of ADHD was found in 104 studies, providing a potential for diagnoses to increase (question 1). Evidence that actual ADHD diagnosis had increased was found in 45 studies (question 2). Twenty-five studies showed that these additional cases may be on the milder end of the ADHD spectrum (question 3), and 83 studies showed that pharmacological treatment of ADHD was increasing (question 4). A total of 151 studies reported on outcomes of diagnosis and pharmacological treatment (question 5). However, only 5 studies evaluated the critical issue of benefits and harms among the additional, milder cases. These studies supported a hypothesis of diminishing returns in which the harms may outweigh the benefits for youths with milder symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This review found evidence of ADHD overdiagnosis and overtreatment in children and adolescents. Evidence gaps remain and future research is needed, in particular research on the long-term benefits and harms of diagnosing and treating ADHD in youths with milder symptoms; therefore, practitioners should be mindful of these knowledge gaps, especially when identifying these individuals and to ensure safe and equitable practice and policy.

Optimization of Methylphenidate Extended-Release Chewable Tablet Dose in Children with ADHD: Open-Label Dose Optimization in a Laboratory Classroom Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine methylphenidate extended-release chewable tablets (MPH ERCT) dose patterns, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom scores, and safety during the 6-week, open-label (OL) dose-optimization period of a phase 3, laboratory classroom study.

METHODS

Boys and girls (6-12 years) diagnosed with ADHD were enrolled. MPH ERCT was initiated at 20 mg/day; participants were titrated in 10-20 mg/day increments weekly based on efficacy and tolerability (maximum dose, 60 mg/day). Dose-optimization period efficacy assessments included the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS-IV), analyzed by week in a post hoc analysis using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures with final optimized dose (20, 30/40, or 50/60 mg), visit, final optimized dose and visit interaction, and baseline score as terms. Adverse events (AEs) and concomitant medications were collected throughout the study.

RESULTS

Mean MPH ERCT daily dose increased weekly from 29.4 mg/day after the first dose adjustment at week 1 (n = 90) to 42.8 mg/day after the final adjustment at week 5 (n = 86). Final optimized MPH ERCT dose ranged from 20 to 60 mg/day. Mean final optimized MPH ERCT dose ranged from 40.0 mg/day in 6-8 year-old participants to 44.8 mg/day for 11-12 year-old participants. There was a progressive decrease in mean (standard deviation) ADHD-RS-IV total score from 40.1 (8.72) at baseline to 12.4 (7.88) at OL week 5, with similar improvement patterns for hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness subscale scores. Participants optimized to MPH ERCT 50/60 mg/day had a significantly higher mean (standard error) ADHD-RS-IV score at baseline compared with participants optimized to MPH ERCT 20 mg/day (42.4 [1.34] vs. 35.1 [2.55]; p = 0.013). Treatment-emergent AEs were reported by 65/90 (72.2%) participants in the dose-optimization period.

CONCLUSIONS

Dose-optimization period results describing relationships between change in ADHD symptom scores and final optimized MPH ERCT dose will be valuable for clinicians optimizing MPH ERCT dose.

Healthcare utilization and costs of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder initiating atomoxetine versus extended-release guanfacine

OBJECTIVES

To compare 1-year direct healthcare costs and utilization among children and adolescents initiating non-stimulant medications atomoxetine (ATX) or extended-release guanfacine (GXR).

METHODS

In this retrospective, observational cohort study, children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who had ≥1 prescription claim for ATX or GXR between December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2011 were identified in the MarketScan Commercial or Multi-State Medicaid claims databases. The first claim was set as the index. Patients with no claims for other ADHD medications that overlapped with the days' supply for the index therapy during the post-period were classified as initiating monotherapy. All-cause and ADHD-related utilization and costs (2011 US$) and treatment patterns (adherence and persistence) were evaluated during the 12 months following index. Propensity score adjustment accounted for differences in patient characteristics, and bootstrapping was used for comparisons.

RESULTS

A total of 13,239 children and adolescents with ADHD met the study criteria (4,411 ATX initiators and 8,828 GXR initiators). There were 2,699 ATX monotherapy patients. In propensity-score-adjusted analyses, mean all-cause total costs were significantly less for monotherapy ATX initiators than for GXR initiators ($7,553 vs $10,639; difference = -$3,086, p < .0001), as were mean ADHD-related total costs ($3,213 vs $4,544; difference = -$1,330, p < .0001). Monotherapy ATX initiators had significantly fewer all-cause and ADHD-related total medical visits and ∼22 days shorter persistence to index therapy (p < .0001). Results were similar for secondary analyses comparing all ATX with all GXR initiators, regardless of monotherapy or combination regimen, and comparing only monotherapy initiators.

CONCLUSIONS

Children and adolescents with ADHD who initiated ATX monotherapy incurred lower all-cause and ADHD-related total healthcare costs than patients who initiated GXR. This was due in part to less healthcare resource utilization and slightly shorter persistence for ATX patients. These findings may aid decision-making and inform future studies, but must be tempered due to inherent observational research limitations.

Racial-Ethnic Differences in Patterns of Discontinuous Medication Treatment Among Medicaid-Insured Youths With ADHD

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the association between race-ethnicity and patterns of medication gaps and discontinuities among Medicaid-insured children initiating pharmacotherapy for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODS

Medicaid claims data from nine states were used to identify racial-ethnic differences in patterns of ADHD medication treatment among 102,669 children initiating ADHD medication. Multinomial logistic regression with state indicators was used to estimate these differences, with adjustment for individual and contextual confounders.

RESULTS

Approximately three-fifths of the sample did not receive continuous medication treatment as defined by HEDIS guidelines; among them, one-fifth discontinued treatment with no subsequent reinitiation (early termination), less than one-tenth reinitiated pharmacotherapy following a single medication gap, more than three-tenths experienced discontinuous pharmacotherapy with two gaps, and more than four-tenths experienced discontinuous pharmacotherapy with three or more gaps. Compared with white children, black children had a 25% relative increase in the likelihood of early termination and Hispanic children had a 21% relative increase (p<.001); their relative increases in the likelihood of two medication gaps were 41% and 29%, respectively (p<.001), and for three or more gaps they were 56% and 40%, respectively (p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Black and Hispanic children were much more likely than white children to be classified as discontinuing ADHD medication treatment, according to HEDIS. The differences predominantly occurred because youths from minority groups were more likely to experience multiple medication gaps, rather than complete discontinuation. Future studies should examine reasons for these multiple gaps to inform interventions to improve ADHD treatment continuity.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in ADHD Treatment Quality Among Medicaid-Enrolled Youth

OBJECTIVES

We estimated racial/ethnic differences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) care quality and treatment continuity among Medicaid-enrolled children.

METHODS

Using Medicaid data from 9 states (2008 to 2011), we identified 172 322 youth (age 6 to 12) initiating ADHD medication. Outcome measures included: (1) adequate follow-up care in the (a) initiation and (b) continuation and maintenance (C&M) treatment phases; (2) combined treatment with medication and psychotherapy (versus medication alone); (3) medication discontinuation; and (4) treatment disengagement (ie, discontinued medication and received no psychotherapy). Logistic regressions controlled for confounding measures.

RESULTS

Among those initiating medication, three-fifths received adequate follow-up care in the initiation and C&M phases, and under two-fifths received combined treatment. Compared with whites, African American youth were less likely to receive adequate follow-up in either phase (P < .05), whereas Hispanic youth were more likely to receive adequate follow-up in the C&M phase (P < .001). African American and Hispanic youth were more likely than whites to receive combined treatment (P < .05). Over three-fifths discontinued medication, and over four-tenths disengaged from treatment. Compared with whites, African American and Hispanic children were 22.4% and 16.7% points more likely to discontinue medication, and 13.1% and 9.4% points more likely to disengage from treatment, respectively (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Care quality for Medicaid-enrolled youth initiating ADHD medication is poor, and racial/ethnic differences in these measures are mixed. The most important disparities occur in the higher rates of medication discontinuation among minorities, which translate into higher rates of treatment disengagement because most youth discontinuing medication receive no psychotherapy.

Quality of care for Medicaid-enrolled youth with bipolar disorders

This study examined conformance to clinical practice guidelines for children and adolescents with bipolar disorders and identified patient and provider factors associated with guideline concordant care. Administrative records were examined for 4,047 Medicaid covered youth aged 5-18 years with new episodes of bipolar disorder during 2006-2010. Main outcome measures included 5 claims-based quality of care measures reflecting national treatment guidelines. Measures addressed appropriate pharmacotherapy, therapeutic drug monitoring, and psychosocial treatment. The results indicated that current treatment practices for youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder typically fall short of recommended practice guidelines. Although the majority of affected youth are treated with recommended first-line pharmacotherapy, only a minority receive therapeutic drug monitoring and/or psychotherapy of recommended duration, underscoring the need for quality improvement initiatives.

Ten-Year Trends In Treatment Services For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Enrolled In Medicaid

Closing the gap between evidence-based clinical practice standards and their inclusion in routine practice continues to be a major goal of health policy reforms. This gap is especially large for the care of children with psychiatric disorders-especially those from low-income families, many of whom are insured through Medicaid. To address this gap, we analyzed trends over ten years (2001-10) from Medicaid claims data describing changes over time in medication, psychotherapy, and combined treatment services for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Over this time, more children received treatments that conformed to practice standards, including the use of combination treatments of medication and psychotherapy. Rates of combined treatment increased by 74 percent, rates of psychotherapy alone more than doubled, and rates of medication alone decreased by 18 percent. Rates of diagnoses without any reimbursed treatment decreased by 39 percent. These trends suggest increasing adherence to clinical practice standards by providers serving children with ADHD in the Medicaid population, although the quality of those services is unknown.

Differences in ADHD medication usage patterns in children and adolescents from different cultural backgrounds in the Netherlands

PURPOSE

Differences in incidence and prevalence of ADHD medication use between ethnic groups have been reported. Goal of this study was to determine whether there are also differences in usage patterns of ADHD medication among native Dutch children and adolescents and those with a Moroccan, Turkish and Surinam cultural background in the Netherlands between 1999 and 2010.

METHODS

In a cohort of ADHD patients <19 years (N = 817) incident use and discontinuation of ADHD medication were measured for ethnicity and adjusted for age, gender and socio-economic status.

RESULTS

A significant higher proportion of ADHD-diagnosed patients from Moroccan (32 %) and Turkish (42 %) cultural background never used ADHD medication compared to Dutch natives (21 %). One-fifth of native Dutch and Turkish patients already used ADHD medication before the ADHD diagnosis date. Discontinuation of ADHD medication within 5 years was significantly higher in Moroccan [HR 2.4 (95 % CI 1.8-3.1)] and Turkish [HR 1.7 (95 % CI 1.1-2.6)] patients. A sensitivity analysis with a zip code-matched comparison between Dutch natives and non-natives showed similar results, suggesting this effect is probably not explained by socio-economic status (SES).

CONCLUSION

Differences are found in prescribing and use of ADHD medication between patients with a different cultural background. Native Dutch and Turkish patients start more frequently with ADHD medication before the ADHD diagnose date, which can be an indication of differences in either referral patterns and/or access to care. A higher percentage of patients with a Moroccan and Turkish cultural background never start using ADHD medication at all and discontinuation rate is higher compared to Dutch natives and Surinamese.

Predictors of concomitant use of antipsychotics and stimulants and its impact on stimulant persistence in pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND

Concomitant use of stimulants and atypical antipsychotics is common in pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the determinants of concomitant use and its utility in the management of pediatric ADHD.

OBJECTIVES

To (a) examine predictors of concomitant stimulant and atypical antipsychotic use and (b) evaluate the impact of concomitant atypical antipsychotic use on the persistence of stimulants in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD.

METHODS

The retrospective cohort study was conducted using 4 years (January 2004-December 2007) of IMS LifeLink claims data. The study population included children and adolescents aged 6-16 years with a diagnosis of ADHD and those who initiated long-acting stimulants (LAS) from July 2004 to December 2006. Patients were followed for 1 year after index stimulant use. Concomitant use was defined as the concurrent prescription for LAS and atypical antipsychotic agents with at least 14 days overlap after the index LAS claim. Persistence was measured by summing the total number of days a patient remained on the index LAS from the index prescription date with an allowable gap of no more than 30 days. Multiple logistic regression within the conceptual framework of the Andersen Behavioral Model was performed to determine the predictors of concomitant stimulant and atypical antipsychotic use. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression within the conceptual framework of the Andersen Behavioral Model was used to examine the impact of concomitant atypical antipsychotic use on persistence of stimulants.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of 39,981 children who initiated LAS treatment. Most (96.10%) received LAS monotherapy, and 3.90% received LAS and atypical antipsychotic concomitantly. The multiple logistic regression analysis found that gender, health insurance, region, year of cohort entry, season, physician specialty, coexisting mental health conditions, and general mental health status influenced the concomitant use of LAS and atypical antipsychotic agents. Bivariate analyses revealed that concomitant users had longer persistence (by 71 days) than the stimulant-alone users. Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that concomitant atypical antipsychotic was associated with improvement in LAS persistence by 15% (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76-0.94) in comparison with the LAS recipients who did not use atypical antipsychotic concomitantly. Other factors such as age, region, season, coexisting mental health conditions, use of comedications, and general mental health status influenced the LAS treatment persistence among children and adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Various predisposing, enabling, and need factors were associated with the concomitant stimulant and atypical antipsychotic use. Concomitant use of atypical antipsychotics was associated with improved LAS treatment persistence in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Management of newer medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in commercial health plans

PURPOSE

In the United States, many individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pay for their medications using private health insurance coverage. As in other drug classes, private insurers are actively seeking to influence use and costs, particularly for newer and costlier medications. The approaches that insurers use may have important effects on patients' access to medications. This article examines approaches (eg, copayments, prior authorization, and step therapy) that commercial health plans are using to manage newer medications used to treat ADHD and changes in approaches since 2003.

METHODS

Data are from a nationally representative survey of commercial health plans in 60 market areas regarding alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services in 2010. Responses were obtained from 389 plans (89% response rate), reporting on 925 insurance products. For each of 6 branded ADHD medications, respondents were asked whether the plan covered the medication and, if so, on what copayment tier each medication was placed and whether it was subject to prior authorization or step therapy. Measures of management approach were constructed for each medication and for the group of medications. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to test for association of the management approach with various health plan characteristics.

FINDINGS

There was considerable variation across these 6 medications in how tightly they were managed by health plans, with newer medications being subject to more stringent management. The proportion of insurance products relying solely on copayment tiering to manage new ADHD medications appears to have decreased since 2003. Less than half of insurance products (43%) managed these 6 medications solely by use of tier 3 or 4 placement, and most of the remainder (48%) used other restrictions (with or without tier 3 or 4 placement). The average insurance product restricted access to at least 3 of the 6 brand-only medications examined, whether through copayment tier placement or other approaches. More ADHD medications were left unrestricted in health maintenance organization products than in preferred provider organization ones, products with internal or hybrid-internal contracts for behavioral health, those not contracting with pharmacy benefits managers, and those with for-profit ownership.

IMPLICATIONS

Many plans have supplemented copayment tiering with other approaches, such as prior authorization and step therapy, to influence use and decrease costs. It may be that plans have found copayments to be less effective in redirecting use in this medication class. The effect on clinical outcomes was not examined in this study but should be prioritized using other data sources.

The developmental psychopathology of irritability

Chronic, severe irritability is common in childhood and is very impairing. Furthermore, childhood irritability predicts suicidality, social impairment, and depressive and anxiety disorders in adulthood. Focusing on both normative and pathologic development, we review the construct of irritability from its origins in aggression and disruptive behavior research to its contemporary relevance for affective psychopathology. We then describe two broad neurocognitive systems that show promise in differentiating irritable from nonirritable youths: aberrant processing of emotional stimuli and impaired context-sensitive regulation. We suggest behavioral, neurocognitive, and physiologic measures that may aid in studying severe irritability and assessing its therapeutics. Finally, we argue for therapeutic trials targeting severe irritability that address emotional aspects of irritability in addition to the associated disruptive behavior.

Racial/ethnic differences in Medicaid expenditures on psychotropic medications among maltreated children

This study quantifies racial/ethnic differences in Medicaid expenditures on psychotropic drugs among a national sample of children with suspected maltreatment. We linked 4,445 child participants in the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) - consisting of children investigated for suspected abuse and neglect - to their Medicaid claims obtained from 36 states. We used propensity score matching to construct a comparison group of children without known child welfare involvement, and estimated two-part generalized linear models to examine differences in annual psychotropic drug expenditures per child between children of different races/ethnicities. When compared to a matched sample of children, African American and Latino children incur $292 and $144 less expenditures on psychotropic drugs, respectively, than white children. Among NSCAW children alone, African American children display $614 less spending on psychotropic drugs when compared to white children. Racial/ethnic differences in expenditures on psychotropic drugs occur among all children on Medicaid, but the differences are especially pronounced among African American children in contact with the child welfare system. These findings demonstrate that policymakers will need to pay special attention to the needs of children of color as Medicaid expansions proceed nationwide.

Assessing incentives for service-level selection in private health insurance exchanges

Even with open enrollment and mandated purchase, incentives created by adverse selection may undermine the efficiency of service offerings by plans in the new health insurance Exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. Using data on persons likely to participate in Exchanges drawn from five waves of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we measure plan incentives in two ways. First, we construct predictive ratios, improving on current methods by taking into account the role of premiums in financing plans. Second, relying on an explicit model of plan profit maximization, we measure incentives based on the predictability and predictiveness of various medical diagnoses. Among the chronic diseases studied, plans have the greatest incentive to skimp on care for cancer, and mental health and substance abuse.

Trends in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs consumption, Israel, 2005-2012

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to describe trends in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs consumption in Israel (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana, Vyvanse, Focalin, and Adderall) over the 8 years, 2005-2012, and to explore explanations for changes in amounts and patterns of the utilization.

METHODS

Data for the period from 2005 to 2012 were extracted from the database maintained by the Israel Ministry of Health's Pharmaceutical Administration. The data were converted into a defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day.

RESULTS

Consumption of all ADHD drugs covered by Israel's national health care system doubled over the study period, from 4.02 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2005 to 9.92 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2012. This rise was largely due to a fivefold increase in Concerta consumption (from 0.46 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2005 to 2.28 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2012) and a threefold increase in Ritalin consumption (from 1.43 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2005 to 4.84 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in 2012). Adderall (amphetamine mixed salts) consumption rose by 30% for the same period. A substantial trend was noted for increased utilization of high-dose formulations together with proportional decline in low-dose consumption. In the same period, cost of the medications has been reduced an average by 20-25%.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a drastic rise in ADHD drugs consumption in Israel over 2005-2012. This has been associated with substantial reduction in cost and changes in the pattern of prescribing that characterized by increased prescription of high-dose long-acting preparations of ADHD drugs and decreased prescription of their low-dose, short-acting formulations.

Trends, correlates, and disease patterns of antipsychotic use among children and adolescents in Taiwan

PURPOSE

We used Taiwan's population-based National Health Insurance database to investigate the trends, correlates, and disease patterns of antipsychotic use among children and adolescents.

METHODS

The National Health Research Institutes provided a database of 1,000,000 random subjects for study. We chose subjects who were aged 18 years or younger during 1997-2005. In this sample, subjects who were given at least one antipsychotic prescription, including first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) or second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), were identified. Trends, prevalence, and associated factors of antipsychotic use were determined. The proportion of antipsychotic use for psychiatric and medical disorders was also analyzed.

RESULTS

The 1-year prevalence of SGA use increased from 0.00 % in 1997 to 0.09 % in 2005, whereas the 1-year prevalence of FGA use ranged from 2.24 to 3.43 % during this same period, with no significant change. Age and male gender were associated with higher SGA use. Among SGA users, the greatest proportion suffered from psychiatric disorders, including tics, hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood, schizophrenia, affective disorders, and autism. Among FGA users, a larger proportion was for medical conditions, including diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of pediatric SGA use increased greatly from 1997 to 2005. Among pediatric subjects using antipsychotics, SGAs were mostly used for psychiatric disorders, whereas FGAs were mostly prescribed for medical conditions. Future research will focus on indication, dosage, frequency, duration, adverse effects, and off-label use of antipsychotics in the pediatric population.

Pharmacoepidemiology of antipsychotic use in youth with ADHD: trends and clinical implications

Although concern has been raised about antipsychotic prescribing to youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the available database is limited to individual studies. Therefore, in order to provide a synthesis of prevalence and time trends, we conducted a systematic review and pooled analysis of pharmaco-epidemiologic data on antipsychotic use in ADHD youth. Of 1806 hits, 21 studies (N) were retained that reported analyzable data for three separate populations: 1) antipsychotic-treated youth (N = 15, n = 341,586); 2) ADHD youth (N = 9, n = 6,192,368), and 3) general population youth (N = 5, n = 14,284,916). Altogether, 30.5 ± 18.5% of antipsychotic-treated youth had ADHD. In longitudinal studies, this percentage increased over time (1998-2007) from 21.7 ± 7.1% to 27.7 ± 7.7%, ratio = 1.3 ± 0.4. Furthermore, 11.5 ± 17.5% of ADHD youth received antipsychotics. In longitudinal studies, this percentage also increased (1998-2006) from 5.5 ± 2.6% to 11.4 ± 6.7%, ratio = 2.1 ± 0.6. Finally, 0.12 ± 0.07% of youth in the general population were diagnosed with ADHD and received antipsychotics. Again, in longitudinal studies, this percentage increased over time (1993-2007): 0.13 ± 0.09% to 0.44 ± 0.49%, ratio = 3.1 ± 2.2. Taken together, these data indicate that antipsychotics are used by a clinically relevant and increasing number of youth with ADHD. Reasons for and risk/benefit ratios of this practice with little evidence base require further investigation.

The impact of long-acting medications on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment disparities

OBJECTIVE

Long-acting stimulants have increased medication adherence for many children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but it is unknown whether the increase has been similar across racial/ethnic groups. Our objective was to determine whether differences in medication utilization and adherence among white, black, and Hispanic ADHD-diagnosed children and adolescents narrowed following the introduction of long-acting stimulants in the 1990s.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of Florida Medicaid claims data from fiscal years 1996-2005. At each of three cross sections, we identified children and adolescents 3-17 years of age with at least two claims with an ADHD diagnosis. We used linear regression to model disparities over the study period in utilization of any ADHD medications (utilization of long-acting medication specifically) and medication adherence, and identified patient level, treatment setting, and geographic contributors to disparities.

RESULTS

Although ADHD medication utilization was lower for ADHD-diagnosed minorities than whites in all years, minorities were as likely as whites to switch to long-acting medications. The increase in prescribed days following long-acting medication diffusion was comparable for white and black medication users (40 and 43 days, respectively), but lower for Hispanics (27 days). Geography and provider setting helped to explain disparities in medication utilization overall, but disparities in adherence were not explained by any of the covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite equivalent switching to long-acting medications in the study period, minorities continued to utilize all ADHD medications less than did whites, and for shorter periods. Provider setting helps explain the ADHD medication utilization gap. High-volume, minority-serving providers are potential targets for future interventions related to improved communication about medication and follow-up after medication initiation.