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.
Nydén
Agneta
A
Eli Lilly Sweden AB, Solna, Sweden. agneta.nyden@vgregion.se
Myrén
Karl-Johan
KJ
Gillberg
Christopher
C
D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D004519:Education, Special; D005192:Family Health; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors