Dioniz Vysocki1, Lukas Pilipavičius2
1Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
2Karoliniškės polyclinic, Vilnius, Lithuania
Abstract
Background. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder that starts in childhood and is characterised by increased activity, attention deficit and impulsivity. Over the last decade, the number of drugs prescribed to treat ADHD has increased significantly, leading to increasingly high costs for healthcare systems. Given the economic aspect and the most relevant assessment – patient health, it is important to evaluate the impact of pharmacotherapy on the quality of life of adults with ADHD.
Aim. To conduct a review of literature on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults, discussing the impact of drug treatment on their quality of life.
Methods. A literature review was conducted on the PubMed database, using the keywords: „attention deficit hyperactivity“, „ADHD“, „medication therapy“, „quality of life“, „adult“. Articles published in the last 10 years in English were selected for the analysis.
Results. All medications studied for adult ADHD treatments in clinical trials improved patients‘ quality of life compared to placebo, and pharmacotherapy has been assessed as a significant factor in the quality of life of those taking it.
Conclusions. When comparing a group of adults with ADHD on medication with a group of adults with ADHD on no medication, the former group showed significantly better quality of life scores. Pharmacotherapy was assessed as an important factor in the health of patients with ADHD and is indicated to be used in combination with other non-pharmacological treatments.
Keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity, medication treatment, quality of life, adult pharmacotherapy.