Having a diagnosis of attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder increases the risk of death and reduces overall
life-expectancy, a large study published in The Lancet shows. It finds
that people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder have a more than
doubled risk of premature death - and that accidents are the most common cause.
The researchers, led by Søren Dalsgaard from
Aarhus University in Denmark, found the relative risk of dying was much higher
for women than for men with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Not receiving a diagnosis until adulthood was
also associated with higher risk.
When asked what the causal link could be between
ADHD and early death, researchers cited one pathway that follows ADHD's
well-known risks for oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. That
pathway links ADHD to risk of death as follows. There is an increased risk of:
Antisocial disorders - which increase the risk of
violence and crime.
Substance use - leading to accidents and fighting
Inattention
and impulsivity - increasing accidents and poor health habits.
Risky behaviors - leading to health risks and
accidents.
ADHD alone increases risk of accidents viainattention and impulsivity - which affect
driving since when treated with medication, there is better "performance
in a driving simulator"
and through risky behaviors associated with increased sensation seeking.
No comments:
Post a Comment