Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Medication Use by Children During Parental Military Deployments

Children of Service members often experience added stress and disruption during deployment, which can be especially difficult for youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The relationship between parent deployment and youth ADHD interventions (e.g., medication, healthcare utilization) was examined. Parent deployment was associated with significantly greater healthcare utilization, and pre-school children had significantly more changes (e.g., dose, number of prescriptions) in medications.