THE RISE OF ADULT ADHD DIAGNOSIS: AWARENESS OR OVERDIAGNOSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.5720Keywords:
ADHD; Overdiagnosis; Awareness; DSM-5; Diagnostic TrendsAbstract
Background. In the early 2020s, the global ADHD landscape shifted radically, marked by surging public interest, social media discourse, and rising diagnosis rates. The review investigates whether it reflects enhanced clinical awareness or a trend toward overdiagnosis. Comparing diagnostic trajectories, the study addresses the issue of overdiagnosis in certain populations and persistent underdiagnosis in others, followed by age and gender influence prevalence rates.
Aim. The study aims to analyze epidemiological trends in ADHD diagnosis among children and adults, assesses overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, and identify challenges in the diagnostic process along with factors influencing current diagnostic trends.
Material and methods. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Frontiers, and Google Scholar. The analysis was grounded in DSM-5 criteria, Conners 3, and DIVA-5 questionnaires. NICE guidelines were incorporated to evaluate methodological rigor and temporal demands required for valid clinical assessments.
Results. Data indicate an increase in ADHD diagnoses from 6.1% in 1997 to 10.2% in 2016. Longitudinal analysis reveals an escalation linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic, adult diagnoses averaged 8.8 per 100,000 population monthly. During 2020–2021, this rose to 19.2/100,000 (a 4.9% month-over-month increase). Post-pandemic reached an average of 34.8/100,000.
Conclusions. Despite the noticeable increase in diagnostic rates reported in clinical settings, there remains a lack of solid epidemiological evidence demonstrating a rise in the prevalence of ADHD within the general population within the last decade. Currently, the data does not support a rise in ADHD prevalence, rather it reflects shifts in awareness, diagnostic practices, and health-care seeking behaviors.
References
Faraone, S. V., & Larsson, H. (2019). Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 24(4), 562–575. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-018-0070-0
De Crescenzo, F., et al. (2025). Pharmacological treatments for ADHD in children and adolescents: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 41, 100233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.100233
Smith, J. D. (1985). Neurobiological substrates of attention. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 46(8), 12–18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40245462/
Zhang, L., & Wang, Y. (2025). Digital interventions in adult ADHD: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1646618. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1646618
Cortese, S., et al. (2023). Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 727–738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00000-0
D’Agati, E., Curatolo, P., & Mazzone, L. (Eds.). (2020). Comorbidities in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29081-8
Thapar, A. (2024). ADHD: A developmental perspective. Nature Reviews Psychology, 3, 150–165. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-024-00280-w
Müller, S., et al. (2025). Cognitive behavioral therapy for ADHD: Long-term outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1466088. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1466088
Halmøy, A., et al. (2020). Occupational outcome in adult ADHD: A 10-year follow-up study. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 74(8), 580–587. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2020.1850859
Mylett, M. L., et al. (2026). “I wish I could just be myself”: Experiences of social camouflaging in adults with ADHD. Research in Neurodiversity, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rin.2026.100018
Liu, X., et al. (2025). Genetic markers and treatment response in ADHD. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1597559. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1597559
Kooij, J. J. S., et al. (2025). Diagnosing ADHD in adults in randomized controlled studies: A scoping review. European Psychiatry, 70(1), e15. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.15
Franke, B., et al. (2018). The genetics of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults, a review. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(2), 259–275. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2017.253
Volkow, N. D., & Swanson, J. M. (2021). Clinical practice: Adult attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 178(10), 910–922. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010032
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018, zaktualizowano 2025). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Diagnosis and management (NICE Guideline NG87). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
Simon, V., et al. (2019). Prevalence of adult ADHD: A global meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 256, 534–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.012
ADHD Adult UK. (2025). State of the nation report: Final draft. https://www.adhdadult.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/State-of-the-Nation-report-final-draft.pdf
Libutzki, B., May, M., Gleitz, M., Karus, M., Neukirch, B., Hartman, C. A., & Reif, A. (2020). Disease burden and direct medical costs of incident adult ADHD: A retrospective longitudinal analysis based on German statutory health insurance claims data. European Psychiatry, 63(1), e86. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.84
Yeung, A., Ng, E., & Abi-Jaoude, E. (2022). TikTok and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A cross-sectional study of social media content quality. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 67(12), 963–971. https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437221082854
Schiros, A., Kofler, M. J., Sarver, D. E., & Wells, E. L. (2025). Misinformation mayhem: The effects of TikTok content on ADHD knowledge, stigma, and treatment-seeking intentions. Journal of Attention Disorders. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547241258673
Magnus, J. R., & Peresetsky, A. A. (2022). A statistical explanation of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Artykuł 840180. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.840180
Biederman, J., et al. (2023). A review of the growth of adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 84(4), 22r14561. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.22r14561
Faraone, S. V., et al. (2024). Updated world federation of ADHD international consensus statement. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 158, 105540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105540
Polanczyk, G. V., et al. (2024). Global epidemiology of ADHD over the last decade. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 8(3), 200–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00010-3
Chen, Q., et al. (2025). Environmental factors and ADHD risk: A large-scale longitudinal study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1668070. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1668070
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Aleksandra Joanna Dybcio, Mikhail Kazachok, Szymon Paruszewski, Katarzyna Kupczyk, Mikołaj Jońca, Natasza Kurys, Dorota Szydłowska, Adam Kubisa, Mateusz Miluski, Julia Kupczak
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
How to Cite
