Factors Associated with the Response to Treatment in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (2020-2021)

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common disease in child psychiatry. Symptoms includes inattentive, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In Thailand, the prevalence of ADHD in children was six percent and prevalence in boy was six times higher than those of girl. Treatment of ADHD includes pharmacotherapy and behavior management. Researcher therefore focused on factors associated with ADHD treatment response in order to obtain data for further patient care process improvement.
Objective: To identify factors associated with outcome of ADHD treatment in children at ADHD clinic, Prakhonchai hospital, Buriram province.
Methods: Comparative cross-sectional study, Participants were children aged under 15 years old diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at ADHD clinic, Prakhonchai hospital during January 1st 2020 to September 30th 2021. Data collection was taken from questionnaire included familial characteristics, parent’s knowledge and attitude including the behavior rating scale (short SNAP-IV form) two months before and after treatment. Data was analyzed to determine the association between treatment outcome and the sociodemographic factors (knowledge, attitude and other factors) by logistic regression.
Results: There were 105 ADHD children included in this study. Most of children aged between 5-10 years old (54.3%) in which 81.0% were boy. About 63.8% of these children was studying in early primary level and had fair educational outcome (21.0%). Thirty-five percent of their parents aged between 40-49 years old and 45.7% had education level of secondary school. There were 87.6% of children had care giver in family. After 8 weeks of treatment, symptoms of ADHD improved according to SNAP-IV rating scale assessment. The response was observed as decreasing scale in domains of inattentive symptoms (87.6%), hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (82.9%) and oppositional defiant disorder (90.5%). Factor associated with treatment response (hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms) was parent’s knowledge and understanding to ADHD (Odds =1.91, 95% CI=2.97, p=0.004).
Conclusion: result from this study revealed that overall psychometric outcome was significantly improved after 8 weeks of the treatment (decreased SNAP-IV scales). Parent’s knowledge and understanding to ADHD was significantly associated with ADHD treatment outcome.