The number of new ADHD diagnoses among adults in Germany has nearly tripled since 2015. A study shows a 199 percent increase to 25.7 cases per 10,000 insured by 2024. Experts view this as a positive development due to better detection of previously underdiagnosed cases.
A study by the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, published in the 'Deutsches Ärzteblatt International', analyzes data from 17 Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians for adults aged 18 and over. The incidence of new diagnoses rose from 8.6 per 10,000 insured in 2015 to 25.7 in 2024 – a 199 percent increase. The rise accelerated particularly since 2021, especially among women: from 12.7 to 25.7 per 10,000, with the gender gap narrowing.
The highest rate affects those under 40. Experts like Swantje Matthies from the University Medical Center Freiburg explain that many cases are delayed initial diagnoses from childhood. Girls were less noticeable back then and underdiagnosed. 'It is known that female sufferers were less conspicuous in childhood,' Matthies said.
Reasons for the increase: heightened societal awareness, a new diagnosis code since 2019, and pandemic effects. Alexandra Philipsen from the University Medical Center Bonn warns of social media risks: 'On one hand, content can raise sensitivity to ADHD. On the other, it might lower the threshold for seeking diagnosis based on false self-diagnosis.'
Typical symptoms include concentration deficits, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, which must occur for at least six months across multiple life areas. Andreas Reif from the University Medical Center Frankfurt emphasizes: 'If treatment is needed, medication therapy is the first choice in adulthood.' The rise is viewed positively, as ADHD causes significant distress and therapies improve quality of life. Experts estimate 2.5 percent of adults in Germany are affected. Similar trends appear internationally, such as in Ontario with a 157 percent increase in ADHD medication prescriptions from 2015 to 2023.
