>Science Daily -- 

>Source: Washington State University (http://www.wsu.edu)

>Date: Posted 6/1/99

>

>Study Indicates Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Ritalin

>Prescriptions Are Rising Rapidly

>

>PULLMAN, Wash.--A new study by Washington State University researchers

>reveals physician office visits for the treatment of

>attention-deficiit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more than doubled

>between 1990 and 1995.  The study also shows that stimulant

>prescriptions for drugs that treat the disorder, such as Ritalin, nearly

>tripled among children 5-18 years old.  The findings are published in an

>article in the April 1999 issue of Clinical Pediatrics. The article,

>"National Trends in the Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

>Disorder and the Prescribing of Web Links Methylphenidate Among

>School-Age Children: 1990-1995," reports the results of a study

>conducted by Linda M. Robison and colleagues in the Pharmacoeconomics

>and Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit at Washington State University's

>College of Pharmacy.

>

>The authors suggest reasons for these increasing trends include greater

>physician and public awareness of this condition, the persistence of

>ADHD into adolescence and adulthood, and the increasing rate of girls

>diagnosed with ADHD and treated with stimulant medication.   Robison and

>her colleagues drew data for their analysis from the National Ambulatory

>Medical Care Survey for the years 1990 through 1995. They report that

>the number of physician office visits nationwide resulting in a

>diagnosis of ADHD increased from 947,208 in 1990 to 2,357,833 in 1995.

>

>The percentage of physician office visits resulting in a diagnosis of

>ADHD increased from 1.1 percent of all visits by this age group in 1990

>to 2.8 percent by 1995. Over the same period, the rate of office visits

>resulting in a diagnosis of ADHD increased from 1.9 to 4.5 per 100

>children in the age group.  Patients prescribed any type of stimulant

>medication for the treatment of ADHD increased from 1.2 to 3.4 per 100

>US children. Those prescribed Ritalin increased from 1.1 to 2.8 per 100

>U.S. children.

>

>Other researchers participating in the study were David A. Sclar, Tracy

>L. Skaer and Dr. Richard S. Galin, all with the Pharmacoeconomics and

>Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit at WSU. Sclar is also a member of the

>research faculty at the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research

>and Training. Galin is also affiliated with the University of California

>at Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute.

>

>source:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/06/990601081019.htm

>

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