title: Occupational issues of adults with ADHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that persists into adulthood. Its symptoms cause impairments in a number of social domains, one of which is employment. We wish to produce a consensus statement on how ADHD affects employment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This consensus development conference statement was developed as a result of a joint international meeting held in July 2010. The consensus committee was international in scope (United Kingdom, mainland Europe, United Arab Emirates) and consisted of individuals from a broad range of backgrounds (Psychiatry, Occupational Medicine, Health Economists, Disability Advisors). The objectives of the conference were to discuss some of the occupational impairments adults with ADHD may face and how to address these problems from an inclusive perspective. Furthermore the conference looked at influencing policy and decision making at a political level to address impaired occupational functioning in adults with ADHD and fears around employing people with disabilities in general.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The consensus was that there were clear weaknesses in the current arrangements in the UK and internationally to address occupational difficulties. More so, Occupational Health was not wholly integrated and used as a means of making positive changes to the workplace, but rather as a superfluous last resort that employers tried to avoid. Furthermore the lack of cross professional collaboration on occupational functioning in adults with ADHD was a significant problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research needs to concentrate on further investigating occupational functioning in adults with ADHD and pilot exploratory initiatives and tools, leading to a better and more informed understanding of possible barriers to employment and potential schemes to put in place to address these problems.
authors: South West Yorkshire NHS Partnership Foundation Trust Manygates Clinic, Portobello Road, WF1 5PN, Wakefield, UK. mariosadamou@doctors.net.uk
authors: Marios
authors: M
authors: Adamou
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Arif
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Asherson
authors: Tar-Ching
authors: TC
authors: Aw
authors: Blanca
authors: B
authors: Bolea
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Coghill
authors: Gísli
authors: G
authors: Guðjónsson
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Halmøy
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Hodgkins
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Müller
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Pitts
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Trakoli
authors: Nerys
authors: N
authors: Williams
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007586:Job Application; D016272:Occupational Health; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology