Why are ADHD diagnoses on the rise in London?

Transcript

00:00ADHD prescriptions across the UK and specifically in London have drastically risen in the past few

00:06years. A recent study conducted by Aston University and the University of Huddersfield found that

00:11ADHD prescriptions had risen by 18% each year since the pandemic. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental

00:18disorder that is characterised by symptoms including disorganisation, impulsiveness and

00:22difficulty concentrating. The exact cause of ADHD is not known but it can be treated by medication,

00:28therapy or a combination of both. So why are diagnoses on the rise? Well experts don't have

00:34a certain answer to this but those behind the study said it could be due to the impact of the

00:38COVID pandemic. The researchers also suggested that the increasing visibility of conditions

00:43like ADHD on social media may also encourage people to seek diagnosis and treatment. But

00:48while ADHD prescriptions are on the rise in the capital this doesn't necessarily mean that ADHD

00:54is. The data could reflect a shift in the clinical understanding of ADHD

00:59rather than more people actually having the disorder.