Adult ADHD Is Real campaign to raise awareness about ADHD in adults as
a real and treatable medical disorder
NEW YORK, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Howie Mandel, host of Deal or No Deal
and 2008 Emmy Nominee, is raising awareness about Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults through the national multimedia
public service announcement campaign Adult ADHD Is Real. This campaign and
its Web site, AdultADHDIsReal.com, have been developed by a coalition of
groups dedicated to ADHD education and awareness and made possible by
Shire. As an adult living with ADHD, Howie will spread the word that ADHD
is a real and treatable medical disorder and encourage adults who think
they may have ADHD to seek diagnosis and evaluation.
"When I was in high school, my impulsivity led me to all kinds of acts
and pranks. I had trouble sitting still and could hardly focus or pay
attention in class. It wasn't until I was an adult that I was diagnosed
with ADHD," said Howie. "I'm involved in the Adult ADHD Is Real campaign
because I want adults to know that it's never too late to seek help for
ADHD. I hope that sharing my story encourages people to seek help. I didn't
let ADHD prevent me from achieving my goals and neither should anyone
else."
Many people may think of ADHD as a childhood disorder, but up to 65
percent of children with the disorder may still exhibit symptoms into
adulthood. In US adults aged 18 - 44 the disorder affects approximately 4.4
percent of this population based on results from the National Comorbidity
Survey Replication, a nationally representative household survey, which
used a lay-administered diagnostic interview to access a wide range of
DSM-IV disorders. When this percentage is extrapolated to the full US adult
population, the disorder is estimated to affect approximately 10 million
adults throughout the country.
"The symptoms of ADHD impact millions of adults at work, at home, and
in relationships. The Adult ADHD Is Real campaign provides a much needed
platform to educate people about the disorder," said Lenard A. Adler, MD,
Director of the Adult ADHD Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, Associate
Professor of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU School
of Medicine, and author of Scattered Minds: Hope and Help for Adults with
ADHD (G. P. Putnam's Sons 2006). "Although there is no cure for ADHD, there
are treatment plans available that may help successfully manage ADHD
symptoms. It's important to speak with a doctor if you think you may have
the disorder."
The multimedia campaign features Howie in television, radio, and print
public service announcements. Howie will also share more of his personal
story about living with ADHD through the campaign's Web site,
AdultADHDIsReal.com. The Web site provides additional information and
resources for adults with ADHD, and encourages those who think they may
have the disorder to take the adult ADHD self-screener and speak with their
doctor.
AdultADHDIsReal.com also offers:
-- Information about the symptoms of ADHD in adults and how they manifest
differently in adults than in children
-- Resources to help people choose a health care professional
-- Links to view and listen to the public service announcements
-- Links to coalition patient support groups for additional information and
assistance in managing ADHD in adults
The Adult ADHD Is Real campaign is supported by a group of
organizations to raise awareness of ADHD in adults and encourage people who
think they may have the disorder to take an ADHD self-screener and speak
with their doctor. These patient advocacy groups include the ADHD Coaches
Organization (ACO), Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), and
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).
Shire also supports the campaign.
The leaders of the following organizations, ACO, ADDA, and CHADD, have
joined together in making the following statement: "It is imperative for
the public to be aware that ADHD is a real disorder for those with ADHD,
with potential consequences for adults with ADHD and everyone around them.
We commend Howie for sharing his story and hope that it empowers other
adults who think they may have the disorder to seek out more information on
ADHD by visiting AdultADHDIsReal.com."
About The Coalition
The coalition for the Adult ADHD Is Real campaign consists of patient
advocacy groups including ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO), Attention
Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), and Children and Adults with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). The coalition is dedicated to
raising awareness about ADHD in adults as a real and treatable medical
disorder. Shire also supports the campaign.
ACO supports coach-specific training, ADHD education and ADHD coaching
of individuals with the disorder to support high professional and ethical
ADHD coaching standards and promote awareness of ADHD coaching as a core
value for people living with the disorder. To learn more, visit ACO online
at http://www.adhdcoaches.org.
ADDA is committed to providing information, resources, and networking
to adults with ADHD and to the professionals who work with them. ADDA
provides adults with meaningful ways to connect with professionals,
coaches, and other ADHD adults living with ADHD in their homes, workplace,
and every day lives. To learn more, visit ADDA online at
http://www.realadultadd.org.
CHADD is a national organization serving individuals and families
affected by ADHD. With over 200 chapters and 14,000 members, the
organization serves as a clearinghouse for information on the disorder
through its National Resource Center on ADHD, which is funded by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To learn more, visit CHADD
online at http://www.chadd.org.
About ADHD
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and
adolescents. Approximately 7.8 percent of all school-aged children, or
about 4.4 million US children aged 4 to 17 years, have been diagnosed with
ADHD at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disorder is also estimated to
affect 4.4 percent of US adults aged 18-44 based on results from the
National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a nationally representative
household survey, which used a lay-administered diagnostic interview to
access a wide range of DSM-IV disorders. When this percentage is
extrapolated to the full US population, approximately 9.8 million adults
are believed to have ADHD. ADHD is a psychiatric behavioral 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. To
be properly diagnosed with ADHD, the person needs to demonstrate at least
six of nine symptoms of inattention; and/or at least six of nine symptoms
of hyperactivity/impulsivity; these symptoms continue for at least six
months; some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that cause
impairment were present before age 7 years; that some impairment from the
symptoms is present in two or more settings (eg, at work, school, and
home); and that there is clear evidence of clinically significant
impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning and symptoms
cannot be better explained by another psychiatric disorder.
Although there is no "cure" for ADHD, there are accepted treatments
that specifically target its symptoms. Standard treatments include
educational approaches, psychological, or behavioral modification, and
medication.
SHIRE plc
Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty
biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the
specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit and
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), and
gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other
therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions. Shire's
in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in
specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global
rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of
products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces
will deliver strong results.
For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website:
http://www.shire.com.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
ACT OF 1995
Statements included herein that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a
number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In
the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, the Company's results
could be materially affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, risks associated with: the inherent uncertainty of
pharmaceutical research, product development, manufacturing and
commercialization including, but not limited to, the establishment in the
market of VYVANSE(R) (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) (Attention Deficit and
Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD")); the impact of competitive products,
including, but not limited to, the impact of those on the Company's ADHD
franchise; patents, including but not limited to, legal challenges relating
to the Company's ADHD franchise; government regulation and approval,
including but not limited to the expected product approval date of
INTUNIV(TM) (guanfacine extended release) (ADHD); the Company's ability to
secure new products for commercialization and/or development; the Company's
proposed offer for Jerini AG, including but not limited to, the Company's
ability to successfully complete the offer and integrate Jerini AG, as well
as realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; and other risks and
uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
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