Transition between child and adult services for young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): findings from a British national surveillance study
Eke, Helen Ford, Tamsin Newlove-Delgado, Tamsin Young, Susan Ani, Cornelius Sayal, Kapil Lynn, Richard M Paul, Moli Janssens, Astrid
Eke, Helen
Ford, Tamsin
Newlove-Delgado, Tamsin
Young, Susan
Ani, Cornelius
Sayal, Kapil
Lynn, Richard M
Paul, Moli
Janssens, Astrid
Abstract
Background: Optimal transition from child to adult services involves continuity, joint care, planning meetings and information transfer; commissioners and service providers therefore need data on how many people require that service. Although attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently persists into adulthood, evidence is limited on these transitions.
Aims: To estimate the national incidence of young people taking medication for ADHD that require and complete transition, and to describe the proportion that experienced optimal transition.
Method: Surveillance over 12 months using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System, including baseline notification and follow-up questionnaires.
Results: Questionnaire response was 79% at baseline and 82% at follow-up. For those aged 17-19, incident rate (range adjusted for non-response) of transition need was 202-511 per 100 000 people aged 17-19 per year, with successful transition of 38-96 per 100 000 people aged 17-19 per year. Eligible young people with ADHD were mostly male (77%) with a comorbid condition (62%). Half were referred to specialist adult ADHD and 25% to general adult mental health services; 64% had referral accepted but only 22% attended a first appointment. Only 6% met optimal transition criteria.
Conclusions: As inclusion criteria required participants to be on medication, these estimates represent the lower limit of the transition need. Two critical points were apparent: referral acceptance and first appointment attendance. The low rate of successful transition and limited guideline adherence indicates significant need for commissioners and service providers to improve service transition experiences.
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Date
2020-11
Type
Article
Subject
Mental health, Health services. Management, Paediatrics
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Citation
Eke H, Ford T, Newlove-Delgado T, Price A, Young S, Ani C, Sayal K, Lynn RM, Paul M, Janssens A. Transition between child and adult services for young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): findings from a British national surveillance study. Br J Psychiatry. 2020 Nov;217(5):616-622. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2019.131. PMID: 31159893; PMCID: PMC7589988.
Journal / Source Title
The British Journal of Psychiatry
DOI
10.1192/bjp.2019.131
PMID
31159893
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Publisher’s URL
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31159893/