Clinician’s guide to ADHD in 2025: Prevalence, diagnosis, guidance, and treatment

Working in the field of ADHD means operating in an ever-evolving landscape. However, as our understanding grows, so do the opportunities for better identification of symptoms in different demographics, tailored treatments, and equitable care. 

Latest research in ADHD treatment and medication 

Identifying appropriate and effective treatments for ADHD is a critical concern for clinicians and patients. Continued research in this area can help clinicians make decisions supported by evidence and lead to more patients being placed on an effective treatment pathway.

Stimulants have long been prescribed as an ADHD treatment. Two recent Swedish studies have helped to quantify the impact of taking ADHD medications, like stimulants, on life expectancy and broader health. 

• Li et al., (2024) observed an 18.75% reduction in the overall risk of death in the two years after diagnosis for those taking ADHD medication.  

• Taipale et al., (2024) found that taking ADHD medication helped to significantly lower a patient’s risk of suicidal behavior and hospitalization (for both psychiatric and non-psychiatric reasons).  

The potential risks of untreated ADHD: Watch what happens if we do nothing about ADHD

ADHD prevalence in 2025 

Current data on the numbers or percentages of people diagnosed with ADHD is improving, and it is becoming easier to identify ADHD prevalence. 

How many people have ADHD in 2025? 

Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicates that 15.5 million US adults had received an ADHD diagnosis by late 2023. Approximately 50% of these diagnoses were made in adulthood. 

Additionally, a 2024 study reports that 7.1 million US children (around 11.4%) have received an ADHD diagnosis. 

How ADHD affects women and girls differently

Our understanding of the different presentations of ADHD is continuing to develop. We know that women and girls are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than men and boys. We also know that female diagnoses often come later in life and that symptoms present differently in women and girls than in men and boys.

 Learn about women and ADHD: Explore ADHD and women's health and hormones

What guidance is available from national health organizations? 

Later this year, the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) will publish guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults – a much-needed resource for clinicians. 

In the UK, 2024 saw the publication of a significant new Diagnostic Guideline by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The guidance provides clarity on ADHD assessment best practices by recommending the use of an objective test (QbTest) as part of the diagnostic process in children and young people aged 6-17. 

Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare also published significant new guidelines on ADHD and autism in 2024. 

ADHD assessments and the role of objective testing technologies

As more clinics incorporate objective ADHD testing technologies into pathways and research in the field continues to grow, we’re reaching new understandings of the application of the technology.  

Read: Integrate objective ADHD tests into clinical pathways

A new era of awareness and acceptance of ADHD

A 2025 study found that the top 100 #ADHD TikTok videos at the time of analysis had collectively been viewed nearly half a billion times. New content is posted daily, yet the study found fewer than 50% of the claims made in videos about ADHD symptoms aligned with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Other studies have highlighted this potential for social media-driven awareness to encourage more people to seek an ADHD diagnosis, placing further pressure on services that are already in high demand.

What's next for ADHD care? 

Patients and patient welfare are at the heart of this drive to further our understanding of ADHD. Patients expect care that aligns with the emerging ‘Gold Standard in ADHD Care’.

Continue reading: Understanding ADHD in 2025: A clinician's guide