ADHD is being missed in millions of people across the UK with many living without diagnosis or support, despite rising awareness of the condition.
Millions of people in the UK are living with undiagnosed ADHD
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, self-control, and behaviour, and is tied to dopamine dysregulation in the brain, which impacts attention, motivation, and reward processing.
Experts say ADHD is more than just hyperactivity or inattention. Subtle signs like time blindness, disorganisation, hyperfocus, procrastination, impatience, restlessness, and being easily distracted are often overlooked.
Emotional dysregulation - which is a core, visible symptom, affecting daily life, relationships, and work - often gets overlooked.
Alarmist claims that ADHD is overdiagnosed could prevent people from accessing the care they need.
A major review published in the British Journal of Psychiatry involving 32 experts found that “there is no evidence that ADHD is over-diagnosed in the UK. Indeed, available data point to under-diagnosis.”
Lead author Professor Samuele Cortese, from the University of Southampton, told The Sun: “Every time there is a discussion around the prevalence of ADHD and how it is diagnosed, the focus of the conversation most of the time is around the fact that the diagnosis rate has increased over time. Sometimes it’s described in an alarmistic tone. What we wanted to highlight in this piece is that after reviewing all the evidence we were aware of – in the UK in particular, but also comparing to international estimates – the conclusion is that it is true that the diagnosis rates have increased. So we are diagnosing more ADHD in the past decade, but there are still many with ADHD who are out there but despite this they’re not diagnosed. So certainly this increase means that there is more awareness now. But the problem is that we are not yet meeting the need of these people.”
Professor Tamsin Ford, co-author and head of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, added: “While many more people with ADHD are being recognised and treated, we are failing to support many more. Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits; and sadly, missed diagnoses remain common.”
According to ADHD UK, over two million people in Britain may have ADHD without a formal diagnosis. Henry Shelford, CEO of ADHD UK, explained: “If it isn’t debilitating, it isn’t ADHD.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched an independent review into ADHD and mental health services to improve diagnosis and support.