Progress and Pitfalls in the Provision of Quality Care for Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Primary Care

Abstract

Objective: Quality care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults has lagged behind other psychiatric disorders. We sought to assess how the achievement of quality measures (QMs) for diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults has changed over time. Method: We assessed 10 QMs in electronic health records (EHRs) from primary care and behavioral health clinics from 2010 to 2020 for 71,310 patients diagnosed with ADHD. Results: The achievement of QMs increased over time (p < .001). Some showed increases to high levels; others remained low throughout the observation period. No patients achieved more than six of 10 QMs in any year. Small but significant effects for sex, race, ethnicity, practice ownership, practice type, and age. Conclusion: Increase in quality care from 2010 to 2020 along with clear evidence that more efforts are needed to improve quality of care for adults with ADHD seen in primary care.