Factors associated with medium-term response to psychostimulant medication

Objective: To determine, in a sample of children first prescribed psychosti mulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 1992 an d 1994, which child and family factors, components of assessment, and aspec ts of management, were associated with a favourable treatment response, and with parental satisfaction with management. Methodology: Data were obtained by mail survey in March 1995. Factors consi dered potentially significant to treatment response and parental satisfacti on were entered in a three-step hierarchical multiple regression equation. Results: Responses were received from 788 (59.7%) of a possible 1319 parent s. Items making a significant individual contribution to both improvement a nd parental satisfaction were: younger age of the child; amount of informat ion provided by the clinician; shorter interval between review appointments ; continued use of medication; and fewer treatment side effects. Items cont ributing only to treatment response were: longer time taken over establishi ng the diagnosis; and the use of parent and teacher checklists in assessmen t. Conclusions: These data support early intervention for ADHD. A considered a pproach to assessment which includes the use of parent and teacher checklis ts is recommended. Providing adequate information to parents and children i s essential. Review intervals of less than 6 months appear to foster better outcomes.