Can a multi-disciplinary assessment approach improve outcomes for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Bor, William
Heath, Fiona
Heussler, Honey
Reuter, Rebecca
Perrett, Carmel
Lee, Erica

Director, Kids in Mind Research, Mater Medical Research Institute, Mater Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Children’s Health Queensland, Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMHS), and Clinical Practice Supervisor, Rural and Remote, Spring Hill CYMHS, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Staff Specialist and Associate Professor, Mater Medical Research Institute, and Developmental Paediatrician, Mater Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Psychologist, Yeronga Kids in Mind, Mater Child and Youth Mental Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
District Executive Director, Community Child Youth and Family, Children’s Health Services, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia
Executive Manager, Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Dr William Bor, Mater Medical Research Institute, Mater Hospital, Level 2, Potter Building, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. Email: [email protected]

Australasian Psychiatry 21(5):p 499-503, October 2013. | DOI: 10.1177/1039856213497524

Objective:

Public, consumer and professional views about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, its assessment and treatment – especially with medication – remain a highly contested domain. Parents in particular express disquiet with services. One response to this tension is a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parental and education perceptions of this process have not been evaluated previously. A community multidisciplinary approach was assessed in terms of diagnostic outcomes and client satisfaction.

Method:

A comprehensive multidisciplinary structured assessment of the first 50 referred children with severe attentional problems was documented. Demographic and symptom/behavioural profiles, developmental history and indicated multi-disciplinary evaluation were recorded. A team consensus process arrived at diagnostic classification. Post-assessment satisfaction of parents and school staff was surveyed.

Results:

Thirteen children (26%) were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and three commenced stimulants. The majority of parents and educators were satisfied with the service.

Conclusions:

A multidisciplinary assessment clinic for children presenting with attention problems resulted in minimal prescribing. Overall, education staff and parents were satisfied with the service. The model may be a suitable response to the multiple concerns in the community.