Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood behavioural disorder -- systematic reviews demonstrate that the community prevalence of ADHD worldwide is between 2% to 7%, with an average of around 5%.
Additionally, a Additional 5 percent of kids have significant issues with over-activity, inattention and impulsivity that are only sub-threshold to meet full diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Estimates of the administrative (clinically accepted and/or documented ) prevalence vary worldwide and although rising over the years, ADHD remains relatively under-recognised and under-diagnosed in many countries, especially in women and older kids.
This review includes a systematic review of the community and administrative prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents; an overview of the obstacles to accessing care for ADHD; a description of prices connected with ADHD; along with a broad discussion of evidence- based pathways for the delivery of clinical care, such as a focus on key issues for just two specific age groups - preschool children and adolescents requiring transition of care from kid to adult services.
ADHD often persists into adulthood and is a risk factor for a wide array of other mental health issues including defiant, disruptive, and antisocial behaviors, emotional problems, self-harm and substance misuse as well as broader negative outcomes like educational under-achievement and exclusion from school, difficulties with employment and relationships, and criminality.2-4 For health, education and social care services, the timely and appropriate recognition and treatment of children with ADHD-type problems provides an opportunity to boost their long-term outcomes.
The first review (Polanczyk) estimated that the global prevalence of ADHD as 5.29%.5 According to DSM-IV criteria and using symptoms from parent ratings, teacher ratings or best estimate diagnostic processes, Willcutt estimated an incidence of 5.9%-7.1% amongst children and teens.6 In contrast, Erskine et al's meta-analysis embraced a more conservative approachby applying a higher weight to research where information was required from more than one informant and also contained a greater percentage of 12-18 years olds compared to Polanczyk review.7 They estimated that the worldwide prevalence of ADHD amongst 5-19 year olds since 2.2%, with a peak prevalence in age 9 years.