Diagnoses for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased in many countries across all age groups, our latest review has found. We have also shown that prescriptions for ADHD treatments have seen similar increases across all age groups.

Our latest review, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, drew together the recently published research on ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions across the world.

We found that in the UK, increases in recorded ADHD diagnoses and treatment prescriptions occurred across all age groups between 2000 and 2018.

The greatest rise in ADHD diagnoses across this period was among children. However, there was also a distinct increase in adults. For example, among men aged 18-29 there was an approximately 20-fold increase in diagnoses and an almost 50-fold increase in prescriptions.

The sex ratio of ADHD diagnoses in childhood and adolescence was approximately 4:1 male to female. However, the ratio of diagnoses in adulthood is nearly 1:1. This shift may partly reflect increased recognition of how ADHD presents in girls and adults – groups that have........

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