ArticleBMJ open2016
Latest trends in ADHD drug prescribing patterns in children in the UK: prevalence, incidence and persistence.
Article in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03817710 (Prevalence of Tics in Childern With Acute Deficit Hyper Activity Syndrom), which is not on this map. Cited by 45 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Prevalence of Tics in Childern With Acute Deficit Hyper Activity Syndrom
Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Extended-release methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Prescription prevalence of psychotropic drugs in children and adolescents: an analysis of international data.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2019Pooled it
- Medication-taking experiences in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review.Family practice · 2018Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Results of N = 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over discontinuation trials embedded in clinical practice after longer term methylphenidate use: a pilot study.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2025Trial
- Effects of methylphenidate on executive functioning in children and adolescents with ADHD after long-term use: a randomized, placebo-controlled discontinuation study.Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2021Trial
- Self-directed speech and attention deficit hyperactive disorder-like behaviours.British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953) · 2026Article
- Trends in use of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder medications among children and adults in five European countries, 2010 to 2023: a population-based observational study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Why are the youngest in class more often prescribed pharmacological treatment for ADHD?Journal of population economics · 2026Article
- County-level variation and trajectories in ADHD medication dispensing among Norwegian children and adolescents, 2005-2022: a nationwide prescription register study.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Global Trends in ADHD Medication Use: Multiple Contexts and Rising Concerns-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Medical service utilization status and its influence factors in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in China: a nationwide multicenter cross-sectional study.BMC pediatrics · 2025Article
- Increasing incidence of ADHD among children, adolescents and young adults: COVID-19 pandemic-driven trend in Korea (2012-2023).BMJ mental health · 2025Observational
- Nationwide trends in the use of ADHD medications in the period 2006-2022: a study from the Norwegian prescription database.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Improving cognitive function in Chinese children with ADHD and/or RD through computerized working memory training.BMC psychology · 2024Article
- Key Questions on the Long-Term Utility of Methylphenidate in Paediatric Brain Tumour Survivorship: A Retrospective Clinical Case Series.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Trends in use of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication among children and adolescents in Scandinavia in 2010-2020.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2023Article
- Use of eye tracking to improve the identification of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses and prescriptions in UK primary care, 2000-2018: population-based cohort study.BJPsych open · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo investigate attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug prescribing in children under 16 years old in the UK between 1992 and 2013.
methodsAll patients under 16 registered in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) with a minimum of 1 year of observation time and who received at least one prescription of any ADHD drug between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 2013.Trends in prevalence and incidence of use of ADHD drugs in children were calculated between 1995 and 2013 and persistence in new users was estimated.
resultsThe prevalence of ADHD drug use in children under 16 increased 34-fold overall, rising from 1.5 95% CI (1.1 to 2.0) per 10 000 children in 1995 to 50.7 95% CI (49.2 to 52.1) per 10 000 children in 2008 then stabilising to 51.1 95% CI (49.7 to 52.6) per 10 000 children in 2013. The rate of new users increased eightfold reaching 10.2 95% CI (9.5 to 10.9) per 10 000 children in 2007 then decreasing to 9.1 95% CI (8.5 to 9.7) per 10 000 children in 2013. Although prevalence and incidence increased rather steeply after 1995, this trend seems to halt from 2008 onwards. We identified that 77%, 95% CI (76% to 78%) of children were still under treatment after 1 year and 60% 95% CI (59% to 61%) after 2 years.
conclusionsThere was a marked increase in ADHD drug use among children in the UK from 1992 until around 2008, with stable levels of use since then. UK children show relatively long persistence of treatment with ADHD medications compared to other countries.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.