The increase in stimulant medication use for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the 1990s has focused public attention on the consequences of treatment. One relevant perspective is that of parents whose children receive this medication. The goal of this study was to assess parental concerns regarding stimulant treatment for ADHD.
A sample of parents was recruited during a nine-month period 1998-1999 from six sites of a group-model health maintenance organization (HMO) in Northern Virginia to complete the Attitudes, Satisfaction, Knowledge and Medication Experiences (ASK-ME) survey. A total of 247 parents completed the survey, which resulted in an 84% response rate.
The major findings are: 1) 46% of the youths were periodically non-compliant with treatment due to dislike of pills (15%), embarrassment (12%), and specific adverse effects (12%); 2) 35% of the parents believed that stimulants lead to later drug abuse; 3) 66% were hesitant to give their child methylphenidate based on problems they had heard about it; 4) parents expressed less satisfaction with improvement in their child’s self-esteem and social relations relative to improvement in academic performance.
Evaluation of stimulant treatment outcomes in future studies must include measures of adherence to treatment, adverse effects, parental concerns, and the child’s psychological and social development. These are important considerations for multi-dimensional assessment of stimulant treatment outcomes in the usual practice setting.
Learning Objectives: 1. Review information on parental perspectives on psychotropic medication. 2. Describe results of a study of parental concerns regarding stimulant tretment for ADHD. 3. Discuss implications with regard to assessment and treatment practices in usual settings
Keywords: Mental Health, School Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.