Treatment costs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Germany

Abstract

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.

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

“…These costs are consistent, in some cases, and not, in others, with those previously suggested in other countries [32, 35, 50–56]. Such variability in ADHD costs reported may be explained by the different methodologies, especially diagnostic procedures, and criteria used in the studies, as well as by the different settings considered, and, for some authors, also the different cultural approaches [17].…”

“…However, these estimates are incomplete and inaccurate due to the fact that the majority of the existing studies did not fully assess all the potential costs related to an ADHD diagnosis [31]. A few reviews covering the attempts made at defining economic impact of ADHD by the limited number of available, country-based studies, highlighted a wide range in the magnitude of the societal cost estimates [30, 32–38]. …”

Comparative treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization and costs of atomoxetine and long-acting methylphenidate among children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Germany

“…ADHD imposes a substantial economic burden on individuals, their families, and healthcare systems [12–16]. A total direct annual cost of €3888 per patient (mean age 15 years) was reported using claims data for 2008 from a major German health insurance fund [12].…”

“…A total direct annual cost of €3888 per patient (mean age 15 years) was reported using claims data for 2008 from a major German health insurance fund [12]. This represents an additional cost of €2902 versus age- and sex-adjusted controls without ADHD [12]. Moreover, healthcare costs associated with ADHD are increasing [6, 12, 16, 17].…”

“…This represents an additional cost of €2902 versus age- and sex-adjusted controls without ADHD [12]. Moreover, healthcare costs associated with ADHD are increasing [6, 12, 16, 17]. As estimates of ADHD prevalence have not increased over time [18], the increasing costs are likely due to improved identification of affected patients and more intensive management [16].…”