Find a therapist to help with ADHD

ADHD rates in the population have not changed.

ADHD recognition and needs for services have increased.

Most countries underdiagnose and undertreat ADHD.

Multiple factors might explain the increase in need.

In the last few years, there has been intense media and political focus on the rising numbers of people seeking support and diagnostic services for ADHD. This has been accompanied by a greater number of prescriptions for ADHD medications being issued. Some people now suggest that ADHD is being over-diagnosed, that psychiatrists are overusing diagnostic labels, and that society is over-medicalizing healthy variation. So, has the rate of ADHD really risen? Are we now over-diagnosing ADHD? What does the evidence show?

The global prevalence of ADHD is estimated at around 5% for children and 3% for adults1. In most countries, there is good evidence that the administrative prevalence of ADHD (those who receive a diagnosis in services) is lower than the population prevalence (the true rate of ADHD in the population). Certainly, in the UK, there is robust evidence of under-diagnosis and under-treatment of ADHD1,2. Most never access services especially those from disadvantaged or minority groups with pronounced regional differences2.

However, what is clear is that demand for ADHD services has........

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