ADHD in Australia: From bench to bedside

Abstract

Background: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent mental health condition affecting 5% of young people worldwide, which is associated with a significant burden of disease. Objectives: This study aimed to provide a bench to bedside overview of ADHD including social and economic costs, educational outcomes, comorbidities and treatment approaches. Methods: The social and economic costs work uses a prevalence approach to cost estimation, while the educational outcomes work uses Investment Logic Mapping to develop a conceptual framework linking education to ADHD strategic goals. A population-based approach is used to examine the comorbidity between ADHD and eating disorders. The two last abstracts present data routinely collected from outpatients referred to Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) to evaluate treatment outcome and an efficacy randomised controlled trial examining the efficacy of treating anxiety comorbid to ADHD. Results: The five key findings are (i) total social and economic costs of ADHD in 2019 were estimated to be AU$20.42 billion; (ii) key performance indicators can be set to measure and track the educational progress of students with ADHD; (iii) young people with ADHD are at increased risk of eating disorder precursors and regular objective binge eating; (iv) children with ADHD being treated through CYMHS do worse than children with other diagnoses and (v) cognitive behavioural therapy is associated with small improvements in anxiety and other aspects of functioning for children with ADHD. Conclusion: ADHD is associated with substantial social and economic costs. There are likely substantial opportunities for targeted policy interventions to reduce the burden and lifelong impact of ADHD.L6351890442021-06-10 <br />