Journal article
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.138(3), pp.e20160407-e20160407
09/01/2016
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-0407
PMCID: PMC5684883
PMID: 27553219
Abstract
We examined racial/ethnic disparities in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and medication use and determined whether medication disparities were more likely due to underdiagnosis or undertreatment of African-American and Latino children, or overdiagnosis or overtreatment of white children.
We used a population-based, multisite sample of 4297 children and parents surveyed over 3 waves (fifth, seventh, and 10th grades). Multivariate logistic regression examined disparities in parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and medication use in the following analyses: (1) using the total sample; (2) limited to children with an ADHD diagnosis or symptoms; and (3) limited to children without a diagnosis or symptoms.
Across all waves, African-American and Latino children, compared with white children, had lower odds of having an ADHD diagnosis and of taking ADHD medication, controlling for sociodemographics, ADHD symptoms, and other potential comorbid mental health symptoms. Among children with an ADHD diagnosis or symptoms, African-American children had lower odds of medication use at fifth, seventh, and 10th grades, and Latino children had lower odds at fifth and 10th grades. Among children who had neither ADHD symptoms nor ADHD diagnosis by fifth grade (and thus would not likely meet ADHD diagnostic criteria at any age), medication use did not vary by race/ethnicity in adjusted analysis.
Racial/ethnic disparities in parent-reported medication use for ADHD are robust, persisting from fifth grade to 10th grade. These findings suggest that disparities may be more likely related to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of African-American and Latino children as opposed to overdiagnosis or overtreatment of white children.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities in ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
- Creators
- Tumaini R Coker - Mattel Children's HospitalMarc N Elliott - RAND CorporationSara L Toomey - Boston Children's HospitalDavid C Schwebel - Departments of Psychology andPaula Cuccaro - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonSusan Tortolero EmerySusan L Davies - University of Alabama at BirminghamSusanna N Visser - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMark A Schuster - Harvard University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.138(3), pp.e20160407-e20160407
- DOI
- 10.1542/peds.2016-0407
- PMID
- 27553219
- PMCID
- PMC5684883
- NLM abbreviation
- Pediatrics
- ISSN
- 0031-4005
- eISSN
- 1098-4275
- Grant note
- U48 DP000056 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U19 DP002663 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U19 DP002665 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U48 DP000046 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS CC999999 / Intramural CDC HHS U48 DP000057 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U19 DP002664 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/01/2016
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949480502771
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