Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the results of a new European survey that found children with ADHD have statistically significant impairments in all aspects of life investigated vs. children without ADHD. Yet, parents take an average of 26.8 months to achieve a diagnosis for their child.


"These data fill a gap in ADHD understanding we have been trying to address for some time on the true impact of, and impairment caused by the disorder for children both at home and at school across European countries" said Dr Caci, Chair of the Survey Steering Committee, Hôpitaux Pédiatriques de Nice. "The survey results hint at the depth of the problem we see in these countries in trying to manage the condition optimally and highlight the pressing need for more work in this area to try and address the significant imbalance in all aspects of life between children affected by ADHD and their non-ADHD classmates and siblings."

Further data from the survey presented today showed teenagers with ADHD were significantly more likely to have conduct problems like excessive alcohol consumption and getting into fights than those without ADHD, as reported by their parents or caregivers. Frustration with either the number of visits or the number of doctors needed to be seen before a formal diagnosis of ADHD was given was reported by over half of respondents (54%). Over one third (38%) of parents/caregivers needed to see three or more doctors before receiving a diagnosis. However, almost half (46%) of children with ADHD were currently receiving medication with 73% of parents satisfied with that medication - most commonly feeling the medication provided sufficient control of symptoms during the school day but not beyond.

"It is worrying that parents still have to battle so hard to achieve the diagnosis that may enable them to begin to address some of the problems their children have, and access treatment that could make a real difference to their future. We all know that for a child's healthy development every year counts, so to see diagnosis take over two years on average highlights the need for better access to ADHD services to get the best package of care for every child and help avoid some of these consequences," said Myriam Menter, ADHD Europe.

These findings are further supported by a new review of ADHD studies. In 281 reviewed scientific papers, ADHD is shown to negatively impact major areas of life, including academic and professional achievement, health, and social behaviour, and is a significant cost to society. Recent research also demonstrates that ADHD has related problems such as low self-esteem, anger outbursts, mood swings, cognitive problems and social and family function and is associated with increased delinquency/criminality, criminal acts, and arrests/incarceration.

ADHD also carries an economic burden. Preliminary findings based on 13 US studies calculates that ADHD costs approximately 31.5 billion Euros in childhood and adolescence annually.

Source: Porter Novelli