The use of medications for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly across Europe over the past decade, with a particularly sharp rise among adult populations, especially women. This trend is highlighted in a substantial study published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, which analyzed data from the Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network (DARWIN EU). Researchers examined electronic health records from over 198,000 individuals across five European countries—Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom—from 2010 to 2023.
The findings indicate that ADHD medication use has increased in all countries studied, with the overall prevalence more than tripling in the UK and more than doubling in the Netherlands. “We observed a consistent increase in ADHD medication use across Europe, but the most striking changes were among adults, especially women,” said Xintong Li, the lead author of the study from the University of Oxford. This surge is attributed to greater awareness and diagnosis of adult ADHD, prompting important discussions about long-term treatment patterns and care needs.
The study revealed that adults aged 25 and older experienced the most pronounced increases in ADHD medication use. In the UK, the rate among women in this age group rose more than twenty-fold, while men saw an increase of fifteen-fold. Despite the overall higher likelihood of males receiving ADHD medication, the gap between the sexes has been steadily narrowing over time.
Understanding these trends is crucial for healthcare planning. “Understanding how ADHD medications are being used in real-world clinical practice is essential for health care planning,” stated Professor Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, the senior author of the study. He emphasized that this data can assist health systems in anticipating demand and mitigating future medication shortages, while also highlighting populations that may require closer monitoring.
Methylphenidate remains the most commonly prescribed ADHD medication across all studied countries. Meanwhile, newer treatments such as lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine have also seen steady uptake since their market approval. Despite this, the continuation of treatment after initiation varies widely, with lower rates in some countries than others.
The study’s findings underscore the growing recognition of ADHD as a lifelong condition, indicating a pressing need for healthcare systems to adapt to rising demand. This need is particularly relevant amid ongoing ADHD medication shortages affecting various parts of Europe. As understanding and diagnosis of this condition evolve, the implications for patient care and healthcare infrastructure will be significant.
The complete study titled “Trends in use of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder medications among children and adults in five European countries, 2010 to 2023: a population-based observational study” can be found in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101556.
