Key Summary
- ADHD medication use in the UK has tripled in a decade.
- Use among women aged 25+ rose dramatically.
- Men still use more ADHD meds, but the gender gap is closing.
A research, led by the University of Oxford, found that the consumption of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication has increased three folds in a decade in the UK.
The study shows that during this period there was a 20-fold increase in ADHD drug usage among women aged 25 and over, The Guardian reports.
The researchers had examined the electronic health records from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK to estimate the use of ADHD medication among adults and children aged three and above and findings were published in the Lancet Regional Health - Europe journal.
They tracked the usage of methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine.
In the UK there was a threefold increase in a decade from 0.12 percent to 0.39 percent, while in the Netherlands it more than doubled from 0.67 percent to 1.56 percent.
The study’s lead author, Xintong Li, said the findings reflect growing awareness and diagnosis of adult ADHD.
However, the results also suggest a much lower rate of ADHD medication use compared with the estimated rate of those affected by the disorder.
Though ADHD medication use remained higher among males, the gender gap has narrowed over time, the researchers said.
