Social and Economic Costs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Across the Lifespan

Social and Economic Costs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Across the Lifespan

Sciberras E, Streatfeild J, Ceccato T, Pezzullo L, Scott JG, Middeldorp CM, Hutchins P, Paterson R, Bellgrove MA, Coghill D

J Atten Disord. 2020 Oct 13:1087054720961828.

doi: 10.1177/1087054720961828.

Commentary* by Dr. Margaret Weiss: Across studies and countries the health care costs of ADHD are far in excess of the resources allocated to train clinicians and provide care.

ABSTRACT

Method: The population costs of ADHD in Australia were estimated for the financial year 2018 to 2019 using a prevalence approach to cost estimation across all ages. Financial (healthcare, productivity, education and justice systems, and deadweight losses) and non-financial costs were measured (Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)).

Results: The total social and economic cost of ADHD in 2018 to 2019 were US$12.76 billion (range US$8.40 billion to US$17.44 billion, with per person costs of US$15,664 per year). Productivity costs made up 81% of the total financial costs, followed by deadweight losses (11%), and health system costs (4%). Loss in terms of wellbeing was significant (US$5.31 billion).

Conclusion: There is a need to raise public awareness of the considerable socioeconomic impact and burden of ADHD in order to drive investment and policy decisions that improve identification and treatment of ADHD.

* Abstracts are selected for their clinical relevance by Dr. Margaret Weiss, Director of Clinical Research, Child Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard University. Her commentary reflects her own opinion.  It is not approved or necessarily representative of the CADDRA board.