Economic cost of autism in the UK.
Autism has lifetime consequences, with potentially a range of impacts on the health, wellbeing, social integration and quality of life of individuals and families. Many of those impacts are economic. This study estimated the costs of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the UK. Data on prevalence, level of intellectual disability and place of residence were combined with average annual costs of services and support, together with the opportunity costs of lost productivity. The costs of supporting children with ASDs were estimated to be pound 2.7 billion each year. For adults, these costs amount to pound 25 billion each year. The lifetime cost, after discounting, for someone with ASD and intellectual disability is estimated at approximately pound 1.23 million, and for someone with ASD without intellectual disability is approximately pound 0.80 million.
Kings College, London, Institute of Psychiatry, UK. m.knapp@lse.ac.uk
Martin
M
Knapp
Renée
R
Romeo
Jennifer
J
Beecham
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006798:Housing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012947:Social Work / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology