Diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have risen among adults in recent years but remained stable among adolescents, according to a study published today in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.
Margaret L. Paul, M.S., of Saint Louis University, and colleagues analyzed data from 144,103 adults and adolescents with no history of ADHD who were regular users of health care services at Sisters of Saint Mary, a large health care system located in four Midwest states. The participants’ mean age was 33.8 years; 84% were adults (ages 19 to 50 in 2016) and 16.1% were adolescents (ages 10 to 18 in 2016).
The researchers used ICD-10 codes to identify new ADHD diagnoses in patient charts from 2016 to 2023. The ADHD incidence among adults increased from .78% in 2016 to .93% in 2023. Between 2016 and 2020, the relative annual decrease in ADHD incidence in adults was 10.6%, but between 2020 and 2023, the trend reversed, and the average relative increase was 15.2%.
The ADHD incidence among adolescents decreased from 2.89% in 2016 to 1.67% in 2023. Between 2016 and 2020, the relative annual decrease in ADHD incidence in adolescents was 26.1%, but there was no statistically significant change from 2020 to 2023.
“Fluctuations in incidence rates are likely due to a complex interplay of various factors, such as increased knowledge and destigmatization of ADHD, changes in diagnostic practices, increased access to healthcare services and treatment‐seeking patterns, and the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on mental health,” the researchers wrote. “Increased awareness and destigmatization of ADHD can lead to more diagnoses being made, resulting in higher incidence rates. As knowledge about ADHD symptoms improves among healthcare providers, parents, and teachers, more cases may be identified and diagnosed.”
For related information, see the Psychiatric News article “Symptoms, Impaired Function of ADHD Often Persist Beyond Childhood.”
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