Children achieve sustained ADHD symptom improvement with long-term, once-daily use of A...( ' physical health mood and family rela...),Health

Specifically, the 560 children, aged 6 to 12 years, who participated in the two-year extension study averaged significantly greater Q-LES-Q scores at 12, 18 and 24 months (56, 57 and 56 points, respectively), compared to the average score at study start (49), P<0.00001 for each time point. A higher Q-LES-Q score indicates improvement in a patient's physical health, mood, family relationships and overall quality of life.

About ADHD
Approximately two million U.S. children, three to seven percent of all school-aged children, have been diagnosed with ADHD and as many as 66 percent may still exhibit symptoms into adulthood, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. ADHD is a significant mental health concern that impacts the patients, their families and their social circle. Children with ADHD often are inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive difficulties serious enough to interfere with their ability to function normally in home, academic or social settings. These symptoms continue beyond the school day, affecting all aspects of the child's life.

ADHD is a neurological brain disorder that manifests as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. Hyperactivity is seen less frequently as the patient ages, although inattention and impulsivity often remain.

Although there is no "cure" for ADHD, physicians, parents, teachers, nurses and advocates are finding ways to help people with the condition learn to adapt to their academic, social and work settings. ADHD usually can be successfully managed with a combination of treatments, including educational approaches, psychological and behavioral therapies and medication. A recent clinical trial found that therapies that include caref
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Contact: Michle Roy, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc
450-978-7938
Porter Novelli
21-May-2003