Journal article

Health Care Costs Associated With Parent-Reported ADHD: A Longitudinal Australian Population–Based Study

E Sciberras, N Lucas, D Efron, L Gold, H Hiscock, JM Nicholson

Journal of Attention Disorders | SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC | Published : 2017

Abstract

Objective: To examine the health care costs associated with ADHD within a nationally representative sample of children. Method: Data were from Waves 1 to 3 (4-9 years) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (N = 4,983). ADHD was defined by previous diagnosis and a measure of ADHD symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ]). Participant data were linked to administrative data on health care costs. Analyses controlled for demographic factors and internalizing and externalizing comorbidities. Results: Costs associated with health care attendances and medications were higher for children with parent-reported ADHD at each age. Cost differences were highest at 8 to 9 years ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Australian Institute of Family Studies


Funding Acknowledgements

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Drs Sciberras and Gold were funded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Population Health Capacity Building Grant (436914 and 425855) and an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship (1037159 and 1035100) for the duration of this manuscript's preparation. This research was supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program to Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI). The Parenting Research Centre receives funding from the Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Child Development.