Pediatric ADHD: What the primary care physician should know

In 2011, approximately 6.4 million children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 years had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to the CDC, which predicts that number will continue to rise in the coming years.

Here, Healio.com/Family Medicine presents the latest news and research on ADHD that primary care clinicians should know about.

Stimulants worsen sleep outcomes among youth with ADHD

Results from a meta-analysis show that stimulant medication led to longer sleep latency, worse sleep efficiency and shorter sleep duration among youth with ADHD. Read more.

ASD, ADHD risk may be influenced by antidepressant-related factors, not antidepressant use

Recent findings suggest risk for autism spectrum disorder and ADHD may be influenced by factors associated with prenatal antidepressant use, but not antidepressant use itself.

Prepregnancy antidepressant use was associated with greater risk for ASD and ADHD, even after adjusting for maternal depression. However, risk did not significantly increase during pregnancy overall, or with exposure during particular trimesters, for either disorder. Read more.

Adolescents recently prescribed ADHD medication at greater risk for bullying

Middle and high school students prescribed ADHD medication reported more peer victimization compared with ADHD students who had never received medication and adolescents without ADHD.

The researchers also said ADHD students who sold or shared their medications in the past 12 months were at more than four times higher risk for victimization than students without ADHD (aOR = 4.66; 95% CI, 1.4-15.5). Read more.

FDA approves QuilliChew ER for pediatric ADHD

Pfizer recently announced FDA approval of its QuilliChew ER for treatment of ADHD among children aged 6 years and older.

QuilliChew ER (methylphenidate hydrochloride) will be available in 20- and 30-mg scored doses and in 40-mg unscored doses. Scored dosing will allow those administering the drug to adjust the dose as required. The tablets can be taken with or without food. Read more. Read more.

Socioeconomic variables affect parent-reported ADHD prevalence differently among ethnic groups

Analysis of national study data show an increase in parent-reported prevalence of ADHD from 2003 to 2011, and that socioeconomic variables affect prevalence differentially between racial/ethnic groups.

Analysis of sociodemographic predictors across race/ethnic groups indicated a consistent association with higher ADHD prevalence among males, children aged 10 to 17 years and children with single mothers. Read more.