Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common pediatric mental health problems but often goes unrecognized. Children with ADHD have an increased risk of injuries. Whether injured children presenting to the emergency department (ED) have an increased frequency of unrecognized ADHD symptoms compared to noninjured children is not known.
Purpose: Examine the association of medically unrecognized ADHD symptoms in injured compared to noninjured children presenting to a pediatric ED.
Methods: A prospective age- and sex-matched cross-sectional comparison design of parent reported ADHD symptoms based on the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale in injured and noninjured children ages 5 to 18 years. Families were excluded if ADHD was listed in the medical history by nurses or physicians or if the child was currently taking medications for ADHD. Injured children were matched with noninjured children who presented with medical complaints. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. Proportions of children with ADHD symptoms in injured and noninjured children were compared with the chi statistic.
Results: One hundred sixty-four mothers of children were enrolled into the study: 82 in the injured and 82 noninjured group. The frequency of parent reported ADHD symptoms was the same in the 2 groups (9.8%).
Conclusions: Children presenting with injuries are no more likely than a noninjured age- and sex-matched group to have unrecognized ADHD based on parental screen. Targeting injured children for ADHD screening is not supported by this study.