Reasons for Treatment Changes in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Chart Review Study

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the reasons underlying treatment changes among pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Data were obtained through online medical chart abstraction (08/2021–09/2021). Eligible patients with ADHD had initiated a treatment regimen at ages 6–17 and within 1–5 years of chart abstraction. Reasons contributing to treatment changes were analyzed for a randomly selected treatment episode. ADHD/treatment-related complication rate was also described. Results were reported overall and among children (ages 6–12) and adolescents (ages 13–17), separately. Physicians’ perspective on adherence among their child, adolescent, and adult patients was assessed through an online survey. RESULTS: A total of 156 physicians abstracted 434 patient charts (235 children + 199 adolescents). Mean patient age was 11.3 years, and 68.7% were male. Inadequate/suboptimal symptom management was the most common reason for treatment discontinuation (50/83 [60.2%]), add-on (17/21 [81.0%]), and dose increase (189/237 [79.7%]). Patient/parent/family attitude/dislike of medication and ADHD/treatment-related complications were common reasons for treatment discontinuation, add-on, switch, and dose decrease. Overall, 42.4% of patients had ≥ 1 documented ADHD/treatment-related complication, insomnia/sleep disturbances being the most common (9.7%). Among patients with ≥ 1 complication, 75.5% reported the experience/fear of complications had a negative impact on their treatment adherence. Results were similar among children and adolescents. Physicians reported taking actions toward patients’ non-adherence by further educating patients, closer monitoring, and changing the prescribed ADHD medication. CONCLUSION: Lack of effectiveness and ADHD/treatment-related complications are important reasons for treatment changes among children and adolescents with ADHD, highlighting the need for more effective and tolerable treatments to mitigate the burden of ADHD. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02329-5.