A Regional ADHD Center-Based Network Project for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With ADHD

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to define the sociodemographic, clinical, and prescription profiles of the participants enrolled in the Italian Lombardy ADHD Register.

Method: Data on patients evaluated by the 18 regional ADHD reference centers in the 2012 to 2013 period were analyzed.

Results: Seven hundred fifty-three of 1,150 (65%) suspected patients received a diagnosis of ADHD. In 24% of cases, there was a family history of ADHD. Four hundred eighty-three (64%) patients had at least one psychopathological disorder, the more common of which were learning disorders (35%). Eighty-four percent of patients received a prescription for psychoeducational interventions, 2% received only pharmacological treatment, and 14% a combination of both. Compared with patients treated with psychoeducational intervention alone, patients with drug prescriptions more commonly presented values of Clinical Global Impressions - Severity scale (CGI-S) of 5 or higher ( p < .0001).

Conclusion: A continuous and systematic monitoring of patterns of care is essential in promoting significant improvements in clinical practice and ensuring an efficient and homogeneous quality of care.

Keywords: adolescent; attention deficit disorder; child; clinical protocol; mental health services; register.