ADHD from a socio‐economic perspective
Abstract
Aim: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related disorders affect children's ability to function in school and other environments. Awareness has increased in recent years that the same problems often persist in adulthood. Based on previous studies, we aimed to outline and discuss a descriptive model for calculation of the societal costs associated with ADHD and related disorders. Methods: Following a literature review including childhood and adult studies, long‐term outcomes of ADHD and associated societal costs were outlined in a simple model. Results: The literature concerning long‐term consequences of ADHD and related disorders is scarce. There is some evidence regarding educational level, psychosocial problems, substance abuse, psychiatric problems and risky behaviour. The problems are likely to affect employment status, healthcare consumption, traffic and other accidents and criminality. A proposed model structure includes persisting problems in adulthood, possible undesirable outcomes (and their probabilities) and (lifetime) costs associated with these outcomes. Conclusions: Existing literature supports the conclusion that ADHD and related disorders are associated with a considerable societal burden. To estimate that burden with any accuracy, more detailed long‐term data are needed.
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The economic burden of untreated adult ADHD shows the same pattern as in children, with higher than normal costs of sickness leave, less productivity, more accidents and more health care costs.
“The economic burden of untreated adult ADHD has been increasingly studied and shows the same pattern as in children, with higher than normal costs of sickness leave, less productivity, more accidents and more health care costs [141,319,320].”
From European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD: The European Network Adult ADHD (2010) · cites this paper as [320]
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“Furthermore, as the young adult grows older, wider impacts are likely to be seen, such as reduced employment prospects, lost productivity and problems with family and other relationships, which in turn may generate needs for support.(154)”
Background
- Authors
- Bernfort, L., Nordfeldt, S., & Persson, J.
- Affiliations
- Linköping University (SE)
- ORCID
- Bernfort, Lars
- Venue
- Acta Paediatrica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-01-30
- Volume
- 97
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 239-245
- ISSN
- 0365-1436 (ISSN-L)
- 0803-5253
- 1651-2227
- OpenAlex
- W1996381241
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 5.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Paediatrica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, social costs, economic burden, long-term outcomes, adult ADHD, substance abuse, psychiatric comorbidity, psychosocial problems, risk-taking, employment status, health care utilization, traffic accidents, criminality, educational attainment
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Humans, Socioeconomic Factors
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