Duration
04/2018 bis 03/2021
Project management and coordination
Prof. Dr. Petra Kolip
Project team members
Britta Kelch
Cooperation partner
Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel (EvKB) gGmbH, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Project funding
Stiftung Wohlfahrtspflege NRW
Background
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common chronic mental disorders in youth: in Germany, the prevalence is estimated at about 5% in the 3-17 age group. ADHD causes a high burden of disease and goes hand in hand with health inequalities in affected youths. Adolescents with ADHD exhibit less health literacy and self-management competencies – the promotion of which is critical to improving appropriate handling of this disorder as well as to empowering affected youths to shape their lives in an autonomously and subjectively satisfactory manner despite the restrictions caused by ADHD. This is even more important, as until a few years ago it was assumed that ADHD symptoms disappear in later adolescence. In the meantime, however, it has become evident that in many cases ADHD symptoms can persist into adulthood(even into old age). Many adolescents therefore have a need for persisting medical-therapeutic and psychosocial care. Owing to the high persistence of the disorder, the health care system is faced with specific challenges, because a change from paediatric to adult health care is necessary. Due to a lack of orientation towards the needs and demands of users, this transition goes hand in hand with a high risk of discontinuation of treatment. In addition, it is often not realized that adolescents and young adults with ADHD and insufficient health literacy live with a high risk of not receiving appropriate care, because they are less capable of participating in care processes. Despite relevant requests, for example of the Sachverständigenrat Gesundheit (Advisory Council on the Assessment of Developments in the Health Care System), sustainable concepts of coordinated procedures for facilitating the transition of ADHD patients still remain to be developed.
Objectives
The aim of the project is
These objectives define the place of the subproject within the overall project. By concentrating on the important target group of older adolescents it also focuses on a relatively early life stage and the challenges arising when realising user-orientated health care.
Approach
This project is part of the research network förges.