Updated findings on neurodevelopmental disorders in Taiwan: impact of the institutionalized national healthcare system on prevalence and health outcomes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study is to review articles published between June 2014 and 2015 that report research on neurodevelopmental disorders in both children and adults living in Taiwan. The most common of the major neurodevelopmental disorders that cause neuropsychiatric or various behavior problems in children are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Asperger syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

RECENT FINDINGS: The review examines articles written by authors from Taiwan and published in professional journals from June 2014 to 2015. About 146 articles were accessed, but only the 23 articles that address general trends in the prevalence of, and the prescription of drugs and treatment for, neurocognitive disorders are included in this review. Nearly 95% of these studies used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Most of the remaining 5% obtained their data from field work, laboratory experiments, or examination of human tissue.

SUMMARY: The reviewed publications indicate increases in the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and other types of neurodevelopmental disorders in children living in Taiwan, from less than 1.3% in the early 1990s to nearly 3% today. The findings also indicate that drugs are very frequently prescribed to stabilize emotional and behavior problems in school age children up to age 13 and in adults with intellectual disabilities. Early onset and indicators of dementia have been two major areas of research with adults with intellectual disabilities, but so far results have been inconclusive.