Global Surge in ADHD Diagnoses and Prescriptions Across All Ages

A recent review of research from 13 countries covering over 154 million people found that diagnoses of attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have risen sharply worldwide for children, adolescents and adults. In the United Kingdom, recorded ADHD diagnoses increased across all age groups between 2000 and 2018, with a roughly 20‑fold rise among men aged 18‑29 and a near‑50‑fold increase in prescriptions for the same group. The childhood male‑to‑female diagnosis ratio of about 4:1 has moved toward parity in adulthood, reflecting greater recognition of ADHD in girls and women. Prescription volumes have also climbed: in England, stimulant prescriptions rose 32 % among adults in 2021‑22 and 12 % among children in 2022‑23, marking the first time adult prescriptions outnumbered those for children since records began in 2015.

Separate analysis highlights the role of hormones in women with ADHD. Fluctuations in estrogen appear to amplify ADHD symptoms, making women up to twice as likely to experience severe pre‑menstrual syndrome, five times more prone to postpartum depression, and markedly affected during perimenopause. Historically, medical research focused on male presentations, leading to under‑diagnosis and undertreatment of women and girls. Emerging studies are beginning to address these gaps and explore hormone‑targeted treatment options.