Long-term psychosocial and health economy consequences of ADHD, autism, and reading-writing disorder: a prospective service evaluation project.

• OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate psychosocial, societal, and family cost consequences of a psychoeducational intervention program. METHODS: Sixty boys with ADHD, Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism (AS/HFA), and reading and writing disorder (RD/WD) were allocated to participate in a service evaluation project. Every other boy in each diagnostic group was randomly allocated to receive either (a) a special education program (clinical index group) or (b) follow-up without the special education program (clinical comparison group). Nine years after initial assessments the stability of the psychosocial and economic resource consequences over time was studied. RESULTS: ADHD, AS/HFA, and RD/WD all had severe impact on family life quality. The societal costs were high, but no significant differences in resource use or in total costs were found between the clinical index and the comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore the very long-term need for support including individually tailored reevaluations and carefully monitored intervention programs adapted to family needs and severity of child disorder.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Asperger Syndrome

Economics

Therapy

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

Economics

Therapy

Autistic Disorder

Economics

Therapy

Child

Cost of Illness

Costs and Cost Analysis

Dyslexia

Economics

Therapy

Education

Special

Family Health

Follow-Up Studies

Health Expenditures

Statistics & numerical data

Health Services

Economics

Utilization

Humans

Male

Prospective Studies

Psychology

Quality of Life

Questionnaires

Sweden

Time Factors

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)