Study reveals one in five banned drivers suffer from ADHD in Barceolona

A STUDY by the Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona has revealed that almost one in five drivers who have lost their licence suffers from undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

The study, conducted by the psychiatric service led by Doctor Miquel Casasindicates has shown that nearly 20 per cent of offenders show signs of the condition.

A total of 611 people were tested who at some point in their lives had lost their licences for various reasons were given the test to demonstrate whether they showed any signs of the neurological condition.

The research has been backed by the Servei Català de Trànsit who requested the study to understand the link between the root causes of traffic accidents and discover whether greater awareness and treatment of the condition would benefit the overall accident figures.

“ADHD has an impulsive behaviour and the possibility of having an accident, with and without injuries, is greater than that of individuals who do not have this disorder,” says Casasindicates.

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD can affect certain bodily functions such as level of consciousness, attention, concentration, abstraction, orientation, mood and psychomotor skills and can develop as early as childhood.

With such effects being imperative for safe driving, the link between the condition and traffic accidents is certainly a worthy one.

Casasindicates also suggested that sufferers of the condition are more likely to turn to toxic abuse such as alcohol and marijuana which aggravates the risk of accidents.

“It is estimated that between 15 and 18 per cent of the population has problems of attention, impulsivity or concentration,” explains the doctor.

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James Warren

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