Psychology Today: NO REAL INCREASE IN ADHD; "greater awareness"

July 17, 2026, Are rates of ADHD really rising? | Psychology Today

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 risen. What might explain this? First, there is much greater awareness and public knowledge of ADHD. Thus, many people with ADHD features and professionals may recognise symptoms more readily and thus seek the support of services. Second, increased public information, including on social media, may have decreased stigma around ADHD.

Third, research evidence has evolved just as one would expect. It used to be thought that ADHD affects only males and children. Research studies have shown that females with ADHD have historically been missed or misdiagnosed (e.g., as having depression, anxiety, or personality disorder)3. Longitudinal studies also have challenged the assumption that “children typically grow out of ADHD”. They show most continue to have ADHD symptoms, impairment, or a full-blown diagnosis in adult life.

Fourth, our diagnostic criteria have changed. ADHD used to be defined very much more narrowly. For example, in the UK, the diagnosis of Hyperkinetic Disorder only affected around 1.4% of children. Also, those with comorbid autism were excluded from a diagnosis of ADHD despite co-occurrence being so common. That exclusion criterion has now been removed from diagnostic systems.

Fifth, whilst population rates of ADHD have not risen, among young people, anxiety and depression rates4,5,6 have risen considerably in the last decade. The impact of these conditions is much greater on those with ADHD, and this would lead to greater impairment and thus help-seeking.

Finally, there are societal and cultural changes globally. For any type of mental health or neurodivergent condition, impairment will depend on the context. For example, if school is undemanding and very flexible and there are multiple different types of employment opportunities, someone with milder ADHD may not seek or require professional support. Indeed, there is some evidence to suggest that over successive decades, ADHD symptom levels have not changed, but their impact on classroom learning and friendships and daily lives has increased7,8.

Across many countries, including the UK, services have not caught up with evidence, including the provision of support for adult ADHD and the population prevalence rate of ADHD. The question of overdiagnosis and over-medicalisation can only be addressed through ongoing monitoring of administrative prevalence rates and further investigation into the risks vs. benefits of a diagnosis and treatment at different symptom thresholds.