Shire to host panel discussion for ADHD

Sep 17 2010

Briefing hosted by Shire, the Entertainment Industries Council and the Lab School of Washington with actress Roxy Olin delivering keynote on behalf of Entertainment Industries Council as part of its mental health advocacy tour

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has partnered with the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) , the Lab School of Washington and other organizations in support of National Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Week to host "Fact or Fiction: ADHD in America, a Capitol Hill Forum." The panel discussion aims to dispel myths and provide facts about the diagnosis, treatment and management of ADHD.  Held in the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, September 16th, this briefing promotes education and increased awareness of ADHD by featuring insights from ADHD experts and advocates.

An estimated 7.8 percent of all school-aged children and up to 4.4 percent of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD, yet few understand the realities of the condition and the day-to-day challenges that it can present for patients and their families. These issues will be addressed by a panel moderated by Frank Sesno, former CNN Washington Bureau Chief and several distinguished participants, including:

• Michele Novotni, Ph.D., ADHD Expert and Former Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) President
• Roxy Olin, Actress, "The City" and "Brothers and Sisters"
• Katherine Schantz, Head of the Lab School of Washington and Baltimore Lab School
• Ari Tuckman, Psy.D, MBA, Psychologist and ADHD Expert
• Judith Warner, Author "We've Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication"

Actress Roxy Olin, known for her work on the MTV show "The City" and ABC's "Brothers and Sisters," will be speaking at the event on behalf of EIC in conjunction with her advocacy work at EIC's annual PRISM Awards Capitol Hill Showcase and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's addiction and mental health awareness event. "I am honored to tell my personal story about living with ADHD," said Ms. Olin. "It's a disorder that presents me with daily challenges and I am pleased to be able to help create greater awareness of this issue by participating in this forum."

Panelists will discuss the neurobiological nature of ADHD, the prevalence of ADHD among children, teens and adults, the impact of ADHD on quality of life and the economy, and the importance of early and effective intervention.

SOURCE Shire