The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement

The Statement which follows is a definitive body of work which supports and demonstrates that ADHD is based in differences of brain chemistry and in the processing of signal transmissions in brain connections, that untreated ADHD leads to serious consequences for those with and without ADHD, and that the costs to society associated with untreated ADHD measure in the billions of dollars annually.

The ADHD evidence project, https://adhdevidence.org  provides a well-indexed access to all 208 statements, with studies of high statistical power which support each statement. You can also listen to my podcast interview with Dr Stephen Faraone, the founder of the project, on ADHD Focus, accessible at https://targetingadhd.com and many podcast channels as well as streaming via expertsandauthors.tv  . 

David Pomeroy M.D. – Doc4ADHD

208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder

Published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Sept 2021, Issue 128, pages 789-818. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.02

Results

We generated 208 empirically supported statements about ADHD. The status of the included statements as empirically supported is approved by 80 authors from 27 countries and 6 continents. The contents of the manuscript are endorsed by 366 people who have read this document and agree with its contents.

Conclusions

Many findings in ADHD are supported by meta-analysis. These allow for firm statements about the nature, course, outcome causes, and treatments for disorders that are useful for reducing misconceptions and stigma.

People with ADHD are at increased risk for obesity, asthma, allergies, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep problems, psoriasis, epilepsy, sexually transmitted infections, abnormalities of the eye, immune disorders, and metabolic disorders.

78–100

People with ADHD are at increased risk for low quality of life, substance use disorders, accidental injuries, educational underachievement, unemployment, gambling, teenage pregnancy, difficulties socializing, delinquency, suicide, and premature death.

101–136

Studies of economic burden show that ADHD costs society hundreds of billions of dollars each year, worldwide.

137–147

Regulatory agencies around the world have determined that several medications are safe and effective for reducing the symptoms of ADHD as shown by randomized controlled clinical trials.

148–157

Treatment with ADHD medications reduces accidental injuries, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, cigarette smoking, educational underachievement, bone fractures, sexually transmitted infections, depression, suicide, criminal activity and teenage pregnancy.

158–177