Support for primary care prescribing for adult ADHD in England: national survey

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, for which there are effective pharmacological treatments that improve symptoms and reduce complications. Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommend that primary care practitioners prescribe medication for adult ADHD under shared-care agreements with Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). However, provision remains uneven, with some practitioners reporting a lack of support. Aim This study aimed to describe elements of support, and their availability/use, in primary care prescribing for adult ADHD medication in England to improve access for this underserved population and inform service improvement. Design and setting Cross-sectional surveys were used to elicit data from commissioners, health professionals (HPs), and people with lived experience of ADHD (LE) across England about elements supporting pharmacological treatment of ADHD in primary care. Method Three interlinked cross-sectional surveys were used to ask every integrated care board in England (commissioners), along with convenience samples of HPs and LEs, about prescribing rates, AMHS availability, wait times, and shared-care agreement protocols/policies for the pharmacological treatment of ADHD in primary care. Descriptive analyses, percentages, and confidence intervals were used to summarise responses by stakeholder group. Variations in reported provision and practice were explored and displayed visually using mapping software. Results Data from 782 responders (42 commissioners, 331 HPs, 409 LEs) revealed differences in reported provision by stakeholder group, including for prescribing (95% of HPs versus 64% of LEs). In all, >40% of responders reported extended AMHS wait times of ≥2 years. There was some variability by NHS region – for example, London had the lowest reported extended wait time (25%), while East of England had the highest (55%). Conclusion Elements supporting appropriate shared-care prescribing of ADHD medication via primary care are not universally available in England. Coordinated approaches are needed to address these gaps.