Use of health and school-based services in Australia by young people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: To examine use of health (including psychiatric) and school-based services by children and adolescents who met symptom criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the factors associated with service use, and barriers to service access.

Method: The relationship between parents' perceptions of children's need for professional help, the impact of children's problems on children and parents, and services used during the previous 6 months were examined in a national sample of 398 children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms aged 6 to 17 years (70% response rate). Information was obtained from parents who completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV and standard questionnaires.