A new study from Sweden shows people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are 45 percent more likely to be involved in a traffic accident, but the rate can be lowered if the person is taking the proper medication, according to Science World Report.
The study involved more than 17,000 people with ADHD during a four-year period and the results show if the proper ADHD medication is being administered, it could dramatically lower the amount of traffic accidents caused by individuals with the disorder, Reuters reported.
"Even though many people with ADHD are doing well, our results indicate that the disorder may have very serious consequences," Henrik Larsson, associate professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics said, via a press release, according to the Science World Report.
"Our study also demonstrates in several different ways that the risk of transport accidents in adult men with ADHD decreases markedly if their condition is treated with medication," Larson added.
The study shows 214 serious traffic accidents occurred for every 10,000 men with ADHD per year, compared to the 77 accidents per 10,000 men who do not suffer from ADHD, according to Reuters.
If the men were taking Adderall or any other medication used to treat ADHD, 41 percent of the serious accidents could have been prevented, researchers in the study say, according to Science World Report.
For women with ADHD, there were 120 accidents for every 10,000 women compared to the 52 accidents per 10,000 women without ADHD, Reuters reported.
According to researcher, past research shows the higher amount of traffic accidents can be attributed to inattentiveness and impulsivity common in individuals with ADHD, according to Reuters.
The overall consensus is that men and women who properly take their ADHD medications had a lower chance of being in a traffic accident, Reuters reported.
