@article{f45c97a11b32476b98e4c6047e07f401,
title = "The influence of COVID-19 on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and treatment rates across age, gender, and socioeconomic status: A 20-year national cohort study",
abstract = "Infection and lockdowns resulting from COVID-19 have been suggested to increase the prevalence and treatment rates of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). To accurately estimate the pandemic's effects, pre-pandemic data can be used to estimate diagnosis and treatment rates during the COVID-19 years as if the COVID-19 pandemic did not occur. However, accurate predictions require a broad dataset, both in terms of the number of cases and the pre-pandemic timeframe. In the current study, we modeled monthly ADHD diagnosis and treatment rates over the 18 years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. The dataset included ∼3 million cases for individuals aged 6 to 18 from the Clalit Health Services' electronic database. Using a trained model, we projected monthly rates for post-lockdown and post-infection periods, enabling us to estimate the expected diagnosis and treatment rates without the COVID-19 pandemic. We then compared these predictions to observed data, stratified by age groups, gender, and socioeconomic status. Our findings suggest no influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on ADHD diagnosis or treatment rates. We show that a narrower timeframe for pre-COVID-19 data points can lead to incorrect conclusions that COVID-19 affected ADHD diagnosis rates. Findings are discussed, given the assumed impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ADHD.",
keywords = "ADHD, Adolescents, COVID-19, Children, Diagnosis, Machine-learning, Prevalence",
author = "{Shkalim Zemer}, Vered and Iris Manor and Abraham Weizman and Cohen, {Herman Avner} and Moshe Hoshen and {Menkes Caspi}, Noa and Shira Cohen and Faraone, {Stephen V.} and Nitzan Shahar",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024",
year = "2024",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116077",
language = "אנגלית",
volume = "339",
journal = "Psychiatry Research",
issn = "0165-1781",
publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",
}