ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions have increased globally across all age groups, our review shows

A global review of ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions shows rising rates across all age groups, with the most dramatic increases among adults. Per The Conversation's analysis of recent research, UK records from 2000 to 2018 showed children saw the biggest overall spike, but men aged 18 to 29 experienced roughly a twenty-fold jump in diagnoses and a nearly fifty-fold increase in prescriptions. The sex ratio of ADHD cases has also shifted: once four-to-one male-to-female in children, it's now nearly equal in adults, reflecting better recognition of how the condition presents in girls and women. Across the globe, adult prescriptions for ADHD stimulants have grown 32 percent in the UK since 2021, and for the first time, more adults are now prescribed these medications than children. Drivers include increased awareness, better clinical understanding, and improved identification of historically overlooked groups—but the review also flags legitimate questions about whether some attention difficulties might be over-medicalised. Wait times for ADHD diagnosis in England currently stretch from two to 15 years, raising concerns that demand will soon outpace NHS capacity.

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