Assessing undertreatment and overtreatment/misuse of ADHD medications in children and adolescents across continents: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Rafael Massuti, Carlos Renato Moreira Maia, Fausto Campani, Márcio Sônego, JuliaAmaro, Gláucia Chiyoko Akutagava-Martins, Luca Tessari, Guilherme V.Polanczyk, Samuele Cortese, Luis Augusto Rohde
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.001
Commentary* by Dr. Margaret Weiss: Overtreatment and under treatment are not mutually exclusive. Inappropriate treatment or failure to treat are both a reflection of the continuing need for education on diagnosis and management of ADHD.
ABSTRACT
A controversy exists on whether there is an over or underuse of medications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We conducted the first meta-analysis to estimate the rate of ADHD pharmacological treatment in both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals.
Based on a preregistered protocol (CRD42018085233), we searched a broad set of electronic databases and grey literature. After screening 25,676 abstracts, we retained 36 studies including 104,305 subjects, from which 18 studies met our main analysis criteria.
The pooled pharmacological treatment rates were 19.1 % and 0.9 % in school-age children/adolescents with and without ADHD, respectively. We estimated that for each individual using medication without a formal ADHD diagnosis, there are three patients with a formal diagnosis who might benefit from medication but do not receive it in the US.
Our results indicate both overtreatment/misuse of medication in individuals without ADHD and pharmacological undertreatment in youths with the disorder. Our findings reinforce the need for public health policies improving education on ADHD and discussions on the benefits and limitations of ADHD medications.
* Abstracts are selected for their clinical relevance by Dr. Margaret Weiss, Director of Clinical Research, Child Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard University. Her commentary reflects her own opinion. It is not approved or necessarily representative of the CADDRA board.