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Prevalence and patterns of methylphenidate use in French children and adolescents

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology volume 64, pages 311–317 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and utilization patterns of methylphenidate (MPH) in children and adolescents in France.

Methods

This was a population-based retrospective study in which the cohort consisted of patients for whom data were extracted from the dispensation drug claims database of the national health insurance (NHI) fund for self-employed workers. Annual prevalence of MPH use was evaluated on patients aged 6–18 years who were reimbursed for at least one MPH prescription a year. Between January 2004 and June 2005, features of MPH medication and user profile were described for the “new starters” having a screening period of 1 year without receiving a MPH prescription and a follow-up ≥12 months. Time to interruption of MPH regular use was analysed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Mean duration of exposure to MPH treatment was computed with the 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Annual prevalence of MPH per 1000 persons was 1.1 in 2003, 1.5 in 2004 and 1.8 in 2005 (relative increase of 63.5%). New starters (n = 447) received their first MPH prescription through the hospital (65.1%) or through private practitioners (34.9%). The user profiles were: short (16.6%), occasional (33.8%) and regular (49.6%). Among the new starters, the median time to interruption of MPH regular use was 10.2 months (95% CI: 7.9–12.4). The mean duration of exposure to MPH treatment was: occasional (4.9 months, 95% CI: 4.3–5.5) and regular (25.7 months, 95% CI: 24.6–26.8).

Conclusion

Although there is a low prevalence of MPH use in France, this survey revealed a wide profile of users and heterogeneous use patterns.

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Abbreviations

ADHD:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

MPH:

Methylphenidate

NHI:

National health insurance

RSI:

Régime social des indépendants

SPC:

Summary of product characteristics

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) within the independent drug research program, contract no. FARM5AJL82. Thanks to Romano Arcieri (National Institute of Health, Italy), Maurizio Bonati (Mario Negri Pharmacological Research Institute, Italy) and Catherine Billard (Kremlin Bicètre Hospital, France) for reviewing the manuscript, to Ernesto Costabile (National Institute of Health, Italy) for support in the literature review, to Maria Grazia Caparra (external consultant) for English revision.

Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have competing interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Research Unit, Department of Drug Research and Evaluation, Italian National Institute of Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Anne-Laure Knellwolf, Serena Palmieri & Pietro Panei

  2. Medical Department, Caisse Nationale du Régime Social des Indépendants (RSI), Paris, France

    Jean Deligne, Guy-Robert Auleley & Claudine Blum Boisgard

  3. Section of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

    Flavia Chiarotti

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire (CHRU) Tours, University of François Rabelais, Tours, France

    Elisabeth Autret-Leca

Authors
  1. Anne-Laure Knellwolf
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  2. Jean Deligne
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  4. Guy-Robert Auleley
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Correspondence to Anne-Laure Knellwolf.

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Knellwolf, AL., Deligne, J., Chiarotti, F. et al. Prevalence and patterns of methylphenidate use in French children and adolescents. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 64, 311–317 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-007-0401-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-007-0401-6

Keywords

  • Children
  • France
  • Methylphenidate
  • Therapeutic uses