Is ADHD being over diagnosed? An Indian perspective

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neuro-developmental disorder of childhood with the prevalence of 3-7 % in school age children [1]. Concerns have been raised in the Western literature as well as in media about over diagnosis of ADHD and over use of medications in children. The evidence given is that in US diagnosis of ADHD has increasing trend (approximately 7 % in 1997 to 9.5 % in 2007) [2]. Similarly in recent years there has been increase in prescription of ADHD medication in many developed countries, which is summarized in the table below. Country Time span Increase in the prescription rates of ADHD medication