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International Journal of Mental Health Systems
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health Systems 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Italian regional health service costs for diagnosis and 1-year treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents

Authors: Gianluigi Casadei, Massimo Cartabia, Laura Reale, Maria Antonella Costantino, Maurizio Bonati, for the Lombardy ADHD Group

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health Systems | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

The main aim of this study was to estimate the costs associated with diagnostic assessment and 1-year therapy in children and adolescents enrolled in 18 ADHD reference centres. Data concerning 1887 children and adolescents from the mandatory ADHD registry database during the 2012–2014 period were analysed. The overall diagnostic and treatment costs per patient amounts to €574 and €830, respectively. The ADHD centre, the school as sender, and the time to diagnosis constitute cost drivers. Non-pharmacological therapy resulted as being more expensive for patients concomitantly treated with drugs (€929) compared to those treated with psychological interventions alone (€590; p = 0.006). This study gives the first and reliable estimate of the costs associated with both diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Italy. Although costs associated with mental disorders are difficult to estimate, continuing efforts are need to define costs and resources to guarantee appropriate care, also for ADHD.
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Metadata
Title
Italian regional health service costs for diagnosis and 1-year treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents
Authors
Gianluigi Casadei
Massimo Cartabia
Laura Reale
Maria Antonella Costantino
Maurizio Bonati
for the Lombardy ADHD Group
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal of Mental Health Systems / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1752-4458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0140-8

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