Epidemic of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in America

What is ADHD?

A phenomenon of interest is the diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the United States.   The prevalence of ADHD increased among children ages 4-17 years from 7% in 1998 to 10.2% in 2013 with the highest rates in the Southern region of the country (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).  The number of stimulants for the treatment of ADHD has also increased substantially over the same time period.  The topic is important and of concern because a wide variety of health care providers, such as primary care providers and pediatricians, diagnosis and treat children for ADHD.  It is more appropriate for these patients to be managed by mental health professionals to ensure best practices are being utilized.  

Click here for more information on ADHD:

 http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/10-symptoms-adult-adhd

(Images retrieved from Google Images).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016).