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The European Journal of Health Economics
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 6/2013

01-12-2013 | Original Paper

Treatment costs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Germany

Authors: Sebastian Braun, Jan Zeidler, Roland Linder, Susanne Engel, Frank Verheyen, Wolfgang Greiner

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 6/2013

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Abstract

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioural disorders among children and adolescents. The number of patients as well as prescriptions to treat this disease has continuously increased over the past few years. The aim of the present study was to analyse the costs for treating ADHD patients from the perspective of a major German health insurance fund.

Methodology

Anonymised administrative claims data were available for the study. All services reimbursed by the health fund for the selected ADHD patients were recorded. Apart from the resource use attributed directly to ADHD, co-morbidities as well as incremental costs were described based on a control group design.

Results

A total of 30,264 ADHD patients were diagnosed in 2008. The total costs for these patients were €3,888, and the incremental costs were €2,902. The largest proportions of incremental costs were due to therapeutic devices and remedies like occupational therapy amounting to €1,270. Proportionate costs of €263 have been settled for pharmacotherapy with Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine. However, 41 % of the patients were not treated with ADHD-related pharmaceuticals.

Conclusions

ADHD costs are relevant from health insurance perspective. The expenses for occupational therapy constitute the cost driver. Compared to the findings of studies from the United States and contrarily to the backdrop of public discussions about considerably increased prescriptions of ADHD-specific drugs, the significantly higher additional expenses for occupational therapy services are impressing. This kind of therapy is internationally rather unknown and is therefore not acknowledged as a therapeutic standard.
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Metadata
Title
Treatment costs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Germany
Authors
Sebastian Braun
Jan Zeidler
Roland Linder
Susanne Engel
Frank Verheyen
Wolfgang Greiner
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 6/2013
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-012-0440-5

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