The Weekly Mind Reader: High Cost of Adult ADHD

by Staff Writer
March 17, 2023 at 11:05 AM UTC

minor ear anomalies are more common in people with depressive order.

Kids grow out of shoes, toys and nightlights, but about 85 percent of kids diagnosed with ADHD carry at least some of the symptoms into adulthood. At some point they need to make their own decisions about whether or not to stay on medication to help manage their condition.

This week, an article in The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders compared different treatment scenarios for adults with ADHD to see who fared best. It turns out that individuals who chose to stay on longer duration of effect stimulant formulations had the most favorable quality of life outcomes for the least amount of money. 

Patients who skipped meds altogether didn’t do quite so well. They took more trips to the hospital and had twice as many outpatient visits compared to those on either immediate-release (IR) only or extended-release (ER) only stimulants, or some combination of the two. Unmedicated adults racked up annual healthcare bills more than three times higher than medicated adults–$18,200 versus the ER+IR group’s $5,460.

As this study made clear, it’s important to understand the burdens faced by your ADHD patients as they move through adulthood and advise them well. When poorly managed, ADHD robs people of their income, health, and happiness. We encourage you to read the full study

More psychiatry and neurology news this week:
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