• Br J Gen Pract · Apr 2024

    Support for primary care prescribing for adult ADHD in England: national survey.

    • Anna Price, Kieran Becker, John Ward, Obioha Ukoumunne, Rebecca Gudka, Anita Salimi, Faraz Mughal, G J Melendez-Torres, Jane Smith, and Tamsin Newlove-Delgado.
    • University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom a.price@exeter.ac.uk.
    • Br J Gen Pract. 2024 Apr 15.

    BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with effective pharmacological treatments that improve symptoms and reduce complications. NICE guidelines recommend primary care practitioners prescribe medication for adult ADHD under shared care agreements with adult mental health services (AMHS). However, provision remains uneven, with some practitioners reporting a lack of support.AimThis study aimed to describe supportive elements (prescribing, shared care, AMHS availability) of primary care prescribing for adult ADHD medication in England, to inform service improvement and improve access for this underserved population.Design And SettingThree interlinked cross-sectional surveys asked every integrated care board (ICB) in England (Commissioners), and convenience samples of healthcare professionals (HP) and people with lived experience (LE), about elements supporting pharmacological treatment of ADHD in primary care.MethodDescriptive analyses used percentages and confidence intervals to summarise responses by stakeholder group. Variations in reported provision and practice were explored and displayed visually using mapping software.ResultsData from 782 respondents (42 Commissioners; 331 HP; 409 LE) revealed differences in reported provision by stakeholder group, including for prescribing (94.6% of HP vs 62.6% of LE). Over 40% of respondents reported extended AMHS waiting times of two years or more. There was some variability by NHS region, for example London had highest rates of HP reported prescribing (100%), and lowest reported extended waiting times (25.0%).ConclusionElements supporting appropriate shared care prescribing of ADHD medication via primary care are not universally available in England. Co-ordinated approaches are needed to address these gaps.Copyright © 2024, The Authors.

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