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. 2017 Apr 28:11:33.
doi: 10.1186/s13033-017-0140-8. eCollection 2017.

Italian regional health service costs for diagnosis and 1-year treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents

Gianluigi Casadei  1 , Massimo Cartabia  2 , Laura Reale  2 , Maria Antonella Costantino  3 , Maurizio Bonati  2 ; Lombardy ADHD Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Italian regional health service costs for diagnosis and 1-year treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents

Gianluigi Casadei et al. Int J Ment Health Syst. .

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to estimate the costs associated with diagnostic assessment and 1-year therapy in children and adolescents enrolled in 18 ADHD reference centres. Data concerning 1887 children and adolescents from the mandatory ADHD registry database during the 2012-2014 period were analysed. The overall diagnostic and treatment costs per patient amounts to €574 and €830, respectively. The ADHD centre, the school as sender, and the time to diagnosis constitute cost drivers. Non-pharmacological therapy resulted as being more expensive for patients concomitantly treated with drugs (€929) compared to those treated with psychological interventions alone (€590; p = 0.006). This study gives the first and reliable estimate of the costs associated with both diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Italy. Although costs associated with mental disorders are difficult to estimate, continuing efforts are need to define costs and resources to guarantee appropriate care, also for ADHD.

Keywords: Ambulatory/outpatient care; Child and adolescent health; Health care costs; Mental health.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Total diagnostic cost (€) per patient: intercenter variability
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Median time to diagnosis (working days) and diagnostic costs (€): Intercenter variability. Bubbles’ size represents the number of diagnoses per center
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Median time to diagnosis (working days) and diagnostic costs (€): Variability by types of the senders. Bubbles’ size represents the number of diagnoses per sender; CANS Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Service, GP General practitioner. Asterisk specialist neuropsychiatrists practicing in agreement with the NHS
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Total treatment cost (€) per patient: intercenter variability
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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