Social and Economic Costs of Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Across the Lifespan

Objectives: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is prevalent though fewstudies have comprehensively considered the total social and economic impacts ofADHD across the lifespan. Methods: The costs of ADHD in Australia were estimatedfor the financial year 2018-19 using a prevalence approach to cost estimation across all ages. This entailed calculating the financial costs attached to healthcare, productivity, and education and justice systems, as well as deadweight losses. Non-financial wellbeing costs (Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)) were added to these financial costings. Results: The total social and economic cost of ADHD in 2018-19 were AUD20.4 billion, a per person cost of AUD25,071 per year. Productivity costs make up 81% of the total financial costs, followed by deadweight losses (11%), health system costs (6%), with other costs including educational and crime and justice costs of 3%. In addition to imposing significant financial costs, ADHD results in impaired functioning that leads to a significant loss in terms of wellbeing (AUD7.6 billion). Conclusions: There is a need to raise public awareness of the considerable socioeconomic impact and burden of ADHD in order to drive investment and policy decisions that improve identification and treatment of ADHD, and to reduce these lifelong impacts.