EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this paper is to examine and summarize available literature on the economic costs of ADHD, as well as possible economic benefits of treating this condition.
INTRODUCTION
ADHD is a very common neurodevelopment disorder of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood around the age of seven with symptoms typical during ages 3-6 and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, staying organized and controlling impulsive behaviors. It is very difficult to diagnose and when undiagnosed the children can grow to be mislabeled as trouble makers in their adulthood.
PREVELANCE OF ADHD IN THE UNITED STATES
Children & Adolescents
Analysis of parent-reported data from the
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2015). The US Census Bureau estimates 1,795,734,009 people were aged 5-19 worldwide in 2013. Thus, 7.2% of this total population is 129 million—a rough estimate of the number of children worldwide who have ADHD. Based on DSM-IV screening of 11,422 adults for ADHD in 10 countries in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, the estimates of worldwide adult ADHD prevalence averaged 3.4% (Fayyad et al. 2007)
Costs Of ADHD
It is estimated that the cost of Illness (COI) of ADHD in the United States for children and adults is between $143 billion to $266 billion (adjusted to 2010 U.S. dollars) every year for the nation (Doshi 2012).
Direct Costs in Children:
Of the total annual cost of ADHD, 26%–27% were incurred by children that account to $38 billion–$72 billion (Pastor 2015). It was also noticed that Children with ADHD incurred significantly greater per capita total costs ($1465 vs $690) than children without ADHD. Children with co-existing co-morbid conditions lead to use of more health resources and incur high health care expenditure than children without ADHD or other significant conditions such as Asthma or other pediatric conditions. Children with ADHD had 10 times more outpatient mental health visits (1.35/year vs 0.14/year), 4 times more pharmacy fills (11.25/year vs 3.30/year), and 2 times more primary care visits (3.84/year vs 2.36/year) than children without ADHD. The incremental costs were estimated to be $375 for children with ADHD
In today's fast-paced society, it seems that prescription drugs are a more reasonable and reliable solution for children and adults than diet and exercise for the "disease" known as ADHD. Rather than take the time to play with their children, or institute a proper diet, it seems that increasing numbers of parents would rather treat their children's unexplained zest for life with pills and doctors. While there are some explanations and reasons for the diagnosis of this popular disease, most children are improperly diagnosed, and are therefore taking unneeded medication. This medication is costly and it can be argued those who benefit from the sale of these drugs most are the
The average cost of ADHD per person in 2007 totaled upwards of over $14, 000 and the yearly cost to Americans from the same year reached $42.5 billion. From microsystems to macrosystems, in Bronfenbrenner’s model of socialization, children are whose symptoms are not addressed appropriately have generational ramifications in degradation of family survival in any economy. From Bronfenbrenner’s studies (1979, 1989, 1995, 2005; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), “the social context of individual interactions and experiences determines the degree to which individuals can develop their abilities and realize their potentials”. (Berns, 2012, p. 17) Services upon services are federally and state funded to support ADHD research and its extending ripples in mental breakdown. As early childhood provider’s we need to be aware of the signs that need to be discovered early as research, such as PATS (Preschool ADHD Treatment Study) is finding that early intervention tactics are decreasing the extending damage of this mental imbalance. (Schusteff,
The increase of ADHD diagnosis has raised many questions and concerns among the public and doctors. However, the percentage of ADHD diagnosis has changed over the last several years. The rise of ADHD diagnosis is, in fact, occurring in the United States. According to (Brown University, 2013) the amount of children that received an ADHD diagnosis increased by 22 percent in a four – year period based on data from the CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also stated that the percentage of children with a diagnosis of ADHD continue to increase in the United States. The growth of ADHD diagnosis is detrimental to society because it affects how ADHD is diagnosed, treatment, and the estimated number of patients that received an ADHD diagnosis.
Attention Deficit with hyper activity Disorder commonly known as ADHD is classified as a disruptive behavior disorder usually diagnosed in childhood. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavior disorder of childhood. It appears to be more common in boys than it is girls. This Disorder is more common in boys than in girls and approximately five in one hundred children are affected (Busing). There are three subtypes: Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive (most children have the combined type of ADHD)(nimh.nih.gov).The age of onset of ADHD is usually in preschool to early elementary school years.
Not every country has its data and statistics on ADHD, as mental disorders are not too cared for and dismissed. However, 175 countries show around 3 – 12% of their population has ADHD. The statistics have risen over the past years since 1997, although most evidence in research indicates it is undertreated in most
Understandably of course it's a money making machine between the cost of therapy, medications, and depending on the medication weekly to monthly blood draws. There's lots of money to be made off of people diagnosed with ADHD. More than that though, is that it's become sort of a trend. “Few topics have generated as much public concern as the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outpatient visits for ADHD jumped from 1.6 million to 4.2 million per year from 1990 to 1993” (ADHD—Overcoming the Specter of Overdiagnosis. (2002). ADHD has
In 2005, the CDC estimated the annual cost of ADHD to the United States to be between thirty-six to fifty-two billion dollars. This estimate takes into account not only medication costs, but those doctor’s visits and lost productivity. Cost of medication is the most significant factor, however, productivity lost by adults with the condition, or having to take off work to address a child’s behavioral incidences account for nearly four billion dollars (CDC 2015). The state of Indiana alone has more than eighty percent of youth diagnosed with the condition on pharmaceutical stimulants (CDC 2015). This provides evidence that a therapeutic approach that reduces the use of these costly stimulants and teaches individuals with the condition a viable, sustainable coping mechanism for their disorder is again a worthwhile pursuit.
Leung and Chan (2017) reviewed that the meta-analysis from Faraone et. al. determined that two-third of children who had ADHD continue to have impairing levels of ADHD as adults, along with the psychiatric disorders. Two main aims that were important was to estimate the prevalence of ADHD among new psychiatric outpatient clinics and to understand the correlates and co-morbidities of ADHD among a population (Leung and Chang, 2017).
Experts at the National Institute of Mental Health, estimate that ADHD affects 3 to 5 percent of school age children and two to three times as many boys as girls. One child in a classroom of 20, is affected. This is not an epidemic, however the media likes to sensationalize ADHD, as if it were. If one person in a family is diagnosed with ADD, there is about a 25 percent probability that another person in the family also has some form of Attention Deficit Disorder". (Peter Jaksa, Ph.D.)
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is quite easily the most common and over-diagnosed problem for youth in the United States. With symptoms that include fidgeting, talking too much, and impulsiveness how can it not be? Of course, according to the American Psychiatric Association, the child needs to display at least six or more of the 16 different symptoms attributed to this disorder for at least six months before a diagnosis should be made. However, there is a little known fact that brings the increasing amount of youth diagnosed with ADHD into question; schools get federal money for each child that is diagnosed with a mental or learning disorder, including ADHD. This can lead to teachers, or other school officials, taking advantage to get more money for the school. The father of a boy, who was being unfairly targeted by his school, decided to create a website to inform other parents about the scam surrounding school officials telling parents their children may have ADHD and need to be put on medication to control the symptoms.
The study titled “Illicit use of Prescription ADHD Medications on College campuses, by DeSantis, Webb, & Noar, (2008) from the Journal of American College Health,” is both quantitative and qualitative in design, because the authors used mass surveys to gather statistics and in-depth interviews to collect personal information.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a commonly diagnosed childhood disorder characterized by impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Eleven percent of all children between the age of four and seventeen, or 6.4 million American kids, have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to a New York Times report. The symptoms of ADHD affect cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning. Conventional treatment usually consists of behavioral accommodations and medication, with stimulant medication most commonly being prescribed. Concerns about side effects and questions regarding the long-term safety of pharmacological treatment, as well as personal preference to avoid stimulant medication, has led many parents
The increase of ADHD is a trend because it has been occurring for several years. ADHD is one of the most well – known neurodevelopmental disorders Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), (2016). The possible consequences of the increase of ADHD is that the ADHD diagnosis will continue to rise, patients will not receive proper care, and ADHD diagnosis and medication will be overused. According to Gordon, J (2013) a study from the state of California showed the diagnosis of ADHD increased by twenty-four percent between the years 2001 and 2011. The awareness of ADHD may have contributed to increasing of ADHD diagnosis in the United States. Many doctors and physicians have noticed the rise in ADHD diagnosis occurring over the past several years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered in their data that parent-reported cases of ADHD led to the increase by 22 percent between the years 2003 and 2007 Gordon, J
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a rising concern in the modern society for the past decade. It has been a hindrance to excelling in life, irrespective of age, for adults and children alike. Signs of ADHD are typically seen at a really young age, usually between the ages six and twelve. ADHD has the potency to negatively affect people’s lifestyles by hampering them psychologically.
The first national survey that asked parents about ADHD was completed in 1997. Since that time, there has been a clear upward trend in national estimates of parent-reported ADHD diagnoses. It is not possible to tell whether this increase represents a change in the number of children who