Global issues related to the impact of untreated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from childhood to young adulthood.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, chronic, and costly disorder, with an impact that can span from preschool into adulthood. There are safe and effective therapies that can manage and help prevent many of the associated negative outcomes of ADHD, but treatment rates are far from optimal and considerable obstacles exist in achieving satisfactory treatment adherence. Individuals with untreated ADHD, their families, and other caregivers must be made aware of the impact that this disorder may have on them at every stage of life and, correspondingly, the improved outcomes that can be achieved with the successful management of ADHD.