In contrast to adult mental disorders, the economic impact of childhood mental disorders has not been widely studied. Costs associated with childhood mental disorders include medical expenses, special education needs, burden to the criminal justice system, and social services. Many studies that report the cost, of child mental disorders focus only on direct medical costs and do not consider the indirect costs to society. One study estimated that a child with ADHD has annual medical costs of $4306 compared with $1944 for children without ADHD. Conduct disorder has been found to be even more costly at $14 000 compared with $2300 for children without CD.87,88
