Objective: This contribution evaluates the prevalence, medication use as well as age and sex distribution in inpatients with hyperkinetic disorders at the KinderAGATE hospitals for 2009-2012.
Method: The age, sex, leading diagnosis, prescribed medication, and dosage of each patient were recorded anonymously twice a year. They provide an outstanding epidemiological basis for the observation of the actual situation in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Results: Compared to our patient collective, patients diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorders (25.5% Pat) were on average 2 years younger and received psychopharmacological treatment more often (statistically significant). Although male patients are dominant here (84.3% HPat, mean age 9.9 years vs. 15.7% HPat, 10.1 years), the same proportion of female and male patients received psychostimulant treatment (48.0% vs. 52.2%). Besides methylphenidate, amphetamine, and atomoxetine, the antipsychotics risperidone, pipamperone, and quetiapine were noticeably often prescribed.
Conclusion: Methylphenidate remains the drug of first choice in the treatment of ADHD. There is an upward trend in the proportion of patients being treated with antipsychotics, though this is not statistically significant. Because of the discrepancy between the available evidence and prescription practice in child and adolescent psychiatry, there is still a great demand for studies regarding long-term efficacy and side effects.