Use of ADHD medication in UK more than tripled in 13 years, study finds | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
In the UK, the proportion of people taking medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has tripled over the past decade, with a 20-fold increase among women aged 25 and over, a study has found.
Researchers led by the University of Oxford examined electronic health records from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom to estimate the use of ADHD medications among adults and children aged three and older.
Prevalence increased in all five countries between 2010 and 2023, according to the study. The UK saw the highest relative increase across all ages, with a more than three-fold increase from 0.12% to 0.39%. In the Netherlands, the prevalence more than doubled, from 0.67% to 1.56%.
The results of the study, which tracked methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine, were published in the journal Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
Adult consumption has increased significantly in all countries, particularly among women. In the UK, prevalence among people aged 25 and over increased from 0.01% in 2010 to 0.20% in 2023, with a more than 20-fold increase in women and a 15-fold increase in men.
Although ADHD medication use remained higher among men, the gender gap in treatment narrowed over time and with age, the researchers said.
“We observed a steady increase in the use of ADHD medications across Europe, but the most striking changes were among adults, particularly women,” said Xintong Li, the lead author of the study from Oxford. “These findings likely reflect growing awareness and diagnosis of ADHD in adults, but they also raise important questions about long-term treatment models and care needs.”
The findings also suggest a much lower rate of ADHD medication use compared to the estimated rate of ADHD itself, which is estimated to affect about 8% of children and adolescents and 3% of adults worldwide, the researchers said.
They said that while it was true that not everyone with ADHD needed medication, the findings suggested that a significant proportion may not need it.
Methylphenidate was the most commonly used drug in all countries. Newer treatments, such as lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine, have seen steady adoption following market approval. However, continuation of treatment after initiation was relatively low, varying considerably between countries.
The findings reflect the growing recognition of ADHD as a lifelong condition and highlight the need for health systems to plan for growing demand, particularly in the context of current shortages of ADHD medications in parts of Europe, the researchers said.
In the UK, the NHS spends £164 million a year on ADHD services, with an increasing amount going to unregulated private assessments, the Guardian reported earlier this month.
The analysis showed that total spending on NHS ADHD services is expected to be more than double existing budgets. Other data showed that the amount spent on private ADHD services more than tripled in three years.
Professor Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, lead author of the study, said: “Understanding how ADHD medications are used in real-world clinical practice is essential for healthcare planning. This data can help health systems anticipate demand and reduce the risk of future drug shortages, while highlighting populations that may require closer monitoring.”
