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Contribution title Associations between suicidal ideation and the initiation of ADHD medications in children and adolescents with ADHD
Contribution code D2.060
Authors
  1. Noa Tsujii Toyama University Hospital Presenter
  2. Hiroaki Kihara Kanazawa Medical University
  3. Akiko Hiraiwa Toyama University Hospital
  4. Haruko Kobayasi University of Toyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  5. Maya Ueno University of Toyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  6. Asami Takasaki Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama
  7. Chikako Igarashi University of Toyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  8. Naohito Kaneko University of Toyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  9. Masahide Usami Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
Form of presentation Poster
Topic
  • T08 - ADHD
Abstract Aims: We examined whether suicidal ideation was associated with a delay in the initiation of ADHD medication among children and adolescents with ADHD.

Methods: Using children’s mental health registry data from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, we followed 431 patients who were diagnosed with ADHD from age 5 to 15 years. We recorded their ADHD medications up to three months after the diagnosis. Using item 10 of the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, baseline assessment of suicidal ideation was based on a score of 1- or 2-points. The primary outcome was the incidence of the initiation of ADHD medications within three months after diagnosis of ADHD.

Results: Of 431 children and adolescents with ADHD at baseline assessment (mean [SD] age, 9.8 [2.4] years; 333 boys [77.3%]), 143 (33.2%) of those had suicidal ideation. The prevalence of school refusal (p = 0.014) and autism spectrum disorder (p = 0.036) were significantly higher in ADHD participants with suicidal ideation than in those without suicidal ideation. The incidence of the initiation of ADHD medications within three months was higher in ADHD participants with suicidal ideation than in those without suicidal ideation. Other factors associated with the initiation of ADHD medications were age, and severity of ADHD symptoms.

Conclusions: Suicidality remains a significant clinical concern in individuals with ADHD who are being treated with ADHD medications. Our findings emphasize the necessity for caution and vigilant monitoring of suicidal ideation in children and adolescents with ADHD who are receiving treatment with ADHD medications.