Researchers have found a marked increase in children diagnosed with ADHD, according to a new study.
The study, which was published in Journal of clinical psychology of children and adolescents May 22, and led by Melissa Danielson, a statistician at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that 1 in 9 children ages 3 to 17 in the United States will have been diagnosed with ADHD in 2022.
According to the study, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (better known as ADHD) is defined as “having symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity, functional impairment in multiple environments, and symptom onset at age 12.”
The researchers called the higher rate of diagnoses “a growing public health concern.”
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In 2018, there was a 10.2% increase in ADHD diagnoses in the US between 2015 and 2016, according to data collected by the National Health Interview Survey. According to their research, “In 2022, 11.4% of US children ages 3 to 17” were diagnosed with ADHD, which translates to approximately 1 in 9 children.
A picture of a child running on the playground.
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One result in the new study showed that boys have a “higher prevalence” of ADHD than girls. “Boys were more likely to have conduct or behavior problems or ASD than girls, while girls were more likely to have anxiety or depression than boys,” it said.
The researchers concluded through the study that the main reasons for the increase in diagnoses could be “generally increasing awareness of ADHD and seeking care for it, and/or it could be a reflection of poor mental health among children during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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Public awareness of ADHD has changed with “potentially reduced stigma” for seeking mental health care to treat the disorder. The study further suggested that it could be beneficial if more children were screened.
Meanwhile, he noted that the “overall trend of increased depression and anxiety in children and adolescents before the pandemic,” which was present in several studies, could lead to more diagnoses.
Despite these factors, there has been a decline in the number of children receiving medication or behavioral treatment for ADHD. According to the study, 30.1% of children with ADHD did not receive behavioral treatment or medication in 2022, compared to 23% in 2016.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education