How to deal with ADHD?

U.S. household income losses due to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) total nearly $77 billion each year, according to a new analysis of the national large-scale survey, "Capturing America's Attention," presented at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting. While the research was paid for ADHD drugmaker Shire Pharmaceuticals, it was conducted by some top scientists and that is why we are more likely to believe some of the findings. It is important to point that after Adderall recall in Canada, there have been similar calls in the United States, but the FDA has refused to act.

So it is not that ADHD is not a problem and that we do not need medication, it is just that some doctors are not sure if Adderall and Adderall XR are the right medications for it. "ADHD, a life-long disorder, may be one of the costliest medical conditions in the United States," said Joseph Biederman, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Chief of Pediatric Psychopharmacology at Massachusetts General Hospital. "The same ADHD symptoms that may cause young patients to perform poorly in school or miss classes may also cause these patients, as adults, to lose a significant amount of income each year. The compelling results of this survey show that ADHD is a serious medical condition causing significant, life-long impairments. Evaluating, diagnosing and treating this condition may not only improve the quality of life, but may save adults with ADHD billions of dollars every year." (Related: Tom Cruise and his views on ADHD)

Biederman and his colleagues found that adults with ADHD have a lower educational attainment and achievement than healthy adults -- factors that not only significantly impact employment rates and income, but cause difficulties in the workplace as well. But even when the investigators accounted for educational attainment and achievement, they found the average loss of household income per adult with ADHD ranged from $8,900 to $15,400 per year,depending on the econometric model used.

Over eight million adult Americans, or 4.3 percent of working-age adults, struggle with the inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity of ADHD. Nearly a quarter of the U.S. workforce (28 million workers ages 18 to 54) experience a mental disorder, according to a 2002 study by the University of Michigan. Employers are now starting to provide services that could be helpful to affected families including flexible work hours, family leave arrangements and childcare assistance, according to Dr. Biederman. Most employers offer employee assistance programs primarily targeted to helping employees deal with psychological issues, or work/life programs that focus on balancing work and family responsibilities.

Although many people tend to think of ADHD as a childhood problem, up to 65 percent of children with ADHD may still exhibit symptoms into adulthood, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Although there is no cure for ADHD, physicians and advocates are finding ways to help people with the condition learn to adapt to their school, home, social and work settings. ADHD usually can be successfully managed with a combination of treatments, such as medication and structured coping techniques.

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