ADHD prevalence estimates across three decades: an updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis

Previous studies have identified significant variability in attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prevalence estimates worldwide, largely explained by methodological procedures. However, increasing rates of ADHD diagnosis and treatment throughout the past few decades have fuelled concern...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of epidemiology Vol. 43; no. 2; p. 434
Main Authors: Polanczyk, Guilherme V, Willcutt, Erik G, Salum, Giovanni A, Kieling, Christian, Rohde, Luis A
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 01.04.2014
Subjects:
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology
Epidemiologic Methods
Global Health - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Time Factors
ADHD
epidemiology
prevalence
time
methodology
cross-cultural
ISSN:1464-3685, 1464-3685
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Previous studies have identified significant variability in attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prevalence estimates worldwide, largely explained by methodological procedures. However, increasing rates of ADHD diagnosis and treatment throughout the past few decades have fuelled concerns about whether the true prevalence of the disorder has increased over time. We updated the two most comprehensive systematic reviews on ADHD prevalence available in the literature. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to test the effect of year of study in the context of both methodological variables that determined variability in ADHD prevalence (diagnostic criteria, impairment criterion and source of information), and the geographical location of studies. We identified 154 original studies and included 135 in the multivariate analysis. Methodological procedures investigated were significantly associated with heterogeneity of studies. Geographical location and year of study were not associated with variability in ADHD prevalence estimates. Confirming previous findings, variability in ADHD prevalence estimates is mostly explained by methodological characteristics of the studies. In the past three decades, there has been no evidence to suggest an increase in the number of children in the community who meet criteria for ADHD when standardized diagnostic procedures are followed.
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ISSN:1464-3685
1464-3685
DOI:10.1093/ije/dyt261