Shire finds some not informed enough about ADHD

Shire has found nearly half (49 per cent) of parents who have children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) do no think they receive enough information about the issue.

In the European survey, 67 per cent mothers and fathers felt most concerned about their youngsters’ symptoms while they were at school, compared to 17 per cent who worried most about it when they were at home.

Some 50 per cent of respondents ? who were from the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy ? felt they played an important role in deciding whether or not their child’s condition needed assessing.

Dr Myriam Menter is president of ADHD-Europe, the organisation that conducted the research with Shire.

She noted the condition effects around 5.3 per cent of children and adolescents worldwide.

“It is important that physicians know how ADHD is currently being perceived by parents of children with the disorder and that they fully understand parents’ concerns about managing their child’s symptoms,” Dr Menter remarked.

The survey should help medical professionals improve the support they offer families affected by the illness, she concluded.

Earlier this month, Shire disclosed data from trials of Intuniv (guanfacine) extended release showing it could be used to effectively treat ADHD.