Global ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions rise

A review published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology by researchers from the University of Cambridge, including Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian and Christelle Langley, found that ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions have increased globally across all age groups. In the UK, diagnoses and prescriptions rose between 2000 and 2018, with the largest increases among children but also significant rises in adults, particularly men aged 18-29 who saw a 20-fold increase in diagnoses and a 50-fold increase in prescriptions. In England, prescriptions of central nervous system stimulants increased by 32% in adults over 18 in 2021-22 and by 12% in children under 17 in 2022-23, marking the first time more adults were prescribed these drugs than children. A retrospective study of over 154 million people from 13 countries confirmed similar increases in North America, Europe, and Asia. The review attributes the rise to increased awareness, better clinical recognition, and new medications, but also raises concerns about overdiagnosis and over-prescribing. The authors note that ADHD is now recognized as a lifelong disorder and highlight challenges for the United Kingdom — National Health Service, including long wait times for diagnosis and potential capacity issues. They suggest that biomarkers could improve diagnostic accuracy in the future.