Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in children and young people (CYP). We know that the number of CYP with ADHD in their medical records is lower than the number in the population who have ADHD. We do not know the reasons why CYP use the health care services before their diagnosis with ADHD or what mental and physical disorders are associated with a later diagnosis of ADHD. We suspect that knowing why CYP use the health services before diagnosis will help us to inform and educate health care workers or teachers about risk factors for a later diagnosis of ADHD. If we can identify patterns of health care service use we may be able to help CYP and their families during a time of distress for them and prevent some of the consequences of mental illness, such as missing school, having other illnesses or failing to achieve well in terms of jobs and prospects in later life. If we can identify physical and mental health conditions that affect CYP with ADHD it will help us to identify opportunities to help these CYP to improve both their physical and mental health and to design interventions to help them and their families
Background and rationale
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in children and young people (CYP). Previous work in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) suggests around 1% of CYP have a recorded diagnosis of ADHD, in contrast to a community prevalence of 3-5%, which suggests an under-recognition of ADHD. An exploration of mental and physical diagnoses recorded in the health care records and their association with a diagnosis of ADHD is currently lacking. In addition, although there have been studies of the association of ADHD with other mental health diagnoses, currently little is known about the association of mental and physical health disorders in CYP with ADHD in English primary care.
Objectives:
To ascertain events that predict the risk of a diagnosis of ADHD through an analysis of primary and secondary care medical records.
Methods:
To undertake a cohort study and a nested case control study of children and young people with and without ADHD.
Analysis:
To identify common physical and mental health diagnoses that may be associated with ADHD and quantify the associations in children and young people with ADHD compared to those without. To estimate the predicted risk of ADHD given previous mental and physical diagnoses.
The association of mental and physical health disorders with a subsequent diagnosis of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Vibhore Prasad - Chief Investigator - King's College London (KCL)
Vibhore Prasad - Corresponding Applicant - King's College London (KCL)
Martin Gulliford - Collaborator - King's College London (KCL)
Patrick White - Collaborator - King's College London (KCL)
Peter Schofield - Collaborator - King's College London (KCL)
HES Admitted Patient Care;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation