Receiving treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: do the perspectives of adolescents matter?

Abstract

Purpose: This study describes the perspectives of parents and adolescents regarding clinical need for and attitudes toward care for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, it explores as to how these views relate to past year usage of mental health services.

Methods: Parents and adolescents were interviewed 6 years after the school district was screened for ADHD. Using standardized measures, mental health service usage, adolescent and parent perceived clinical needs (ADHD symptoms, disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety and/or depression, functioning), and enabling attitudes (treatment receptivity, ADHD stigma), as well as parent factors (caregiver strain, distress, instrumental social support) were assessed. Nested logistic regression modeling was used to determine the hierarchical contribution of parent and adolescent perspectives on past year service usage, after adjusting for previous usage of mental health services. Stepwise regression was conducted to identify the variables that were most predictive of service usage.

Results: Among the adolescents who were at a high risk for ADHD, 79% had a history of lifetime mental health service usage, but only 42% had received any kind of mental health services in the past year. In hierarchical modeling, only parent inattention ratings and medication receptivity and adolescent ADHD stigma perceptions contributed significantly toward improved model fit. Stepwise regression confirmed these three variables to be predictors (OR: 1.2, 3.8, and .2, respectively) and identified adolescents-reported functioning as an additional predictor of service usage (OR: 1.1).

Conclusion: Perceptions of adolescents regarding the stigma related to ADHD are influential in treatment receipt. Quality improvement interventions for adolescents with ADHD should include psychoeducational interventions for adolescents and their parents that target medication receptivity and the stigma related to ADHD.