A study published in _BMJ Mental Health_ looks at the change in rates of ADHD prescriptions from April 2019-March 2024.
**Dr** **Edoardo Ostinelli, Senior Researcher & Deputy Lead, Oxford Precision Psychiatry Lab (OxPPL), Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, said:**
“The findings align with previous research showing an increase in new ADHD diagnoses and – consequently – medication use in the recent years, while evidence suggest that the overall number of people with ADHD (diagnosed or not) in the general population remains stable. This surge in new diagnosis may be driven by greater awareness of ADHD in both people and clinicians. Importantly, the authors identify regional differences in prescription across ICBs, reflecting how access to healthcare and mental health treatment varies by location.”
**Dr Ulrich Müller-Sedgwick, ADHD Champion at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:**
“People with ADHD need access to timely and effective assessment, followed by the appropriate treatment, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic background.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people coming forward for ADHD support in recent years. There are many reasons for this, including improved recognition of ADHD in women, greater public awareness and the impacts of the pandemic which exacerbated many people’s symptoms.
“The right diagnosis and care, including medication and reasonable adjustments, can greatly benefit people’s health and support them to reach their full potential at school, university or work.
“We know that expanding ADHD services through targeted investment would help ensure people receive the vital care they need. The ADHD taskforce and cross-sector organisations should also work together to provide joined-up support that meets people’s wider needs.”
**Dr Paul Keedwell****, Consultant Psychiatrist and Neurodiversity Specialist, said:**
“This study has revealed several interesting trends in prescribing for ADHD since the pandemic. Notably, prescribing has increased by 18% year on year, but the level of prescribing has been lower in less affluent areas and ethnic minorities.
“The study did not distinguish between adults and children, and it did not examine the underlying causes of the trends in prescribing. However, we can make some educated guesses about the main drivers.
“We know that the rate of diagnosis in children and adolescents was fairly level between 2020 and 2023, but there was a big increase in adult ADHD diagnoses, likely due to improved awareness (especially in women), destigmatisation and an increased availability of assessments, especially in the private sector. There could also be an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the direct neurological effect of the virus and a catch-up in assessments since the lockdown. Time will tell if this is a blip or a long-term trend.
“Finally, there could be a degree of overdiagnosing. Although there is no clear evidence for this, it is important that all individuals receive a holistic assessment with a psychiatrist. Many other mental health conditions can cause ADHD-like symptoms. For example, my own clinical work has revealed many cases where inattention problems were caused by untreated depression rather than ADHD. Also, ADHD is often accompanied by other mental disorders like autistic spectrum disorder, complex trauma, anxiety and depression.
“Concerning demographic trends, lower engagement with assessment and treatment among minorities and poorer communities is nothing new and not confined to ADHD. There could be differences in the availability of ADHD services across the country and more research is required.”
**‘Socioeconomic status and prescribing of ADHD medications: a study of ICB-level data in England’ by** **Muhammad Umair Khan** **_et al. was_** **published in _BMJ Mental Health_ at 22:30 UK time on Tuesday 11th March.**
**DOI:** **10.1136/bmjment-2024-301384**
**Declared interests**
**Dr Paul Keedwell:** No conflict of interest