The Worldwide Prevalence of ADHD: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis

Summary & key facts

This paper reviewed many studies from around the world and used statistical methods to see why reported ADHD rates vary so much. The authors found that where a study was done (geographic location) mattered little. Instead, most of the differences came from how studies were designed and how ADHD was measured.

Key facts:

• The paper is a systematic review and metaregression analysis of published ADHD prevalence studies from multiple countries.
• The authors concluded that geographic location plays a limited role in explaining the large differences in reported ADHD/HD prevalence worldwide.
• Most of the variability in reported prevalence was attributed to methodological characteristics of the studies, not to place or region.
• Examples of methodological differences include how ADHD was defined and measured, who reported symptoms (for example, parents, teachers, or clinicians), and whether studies required evidence of functional impairment.
• Because study methods vary a lot, directly comparing raw ADHD prevalence numbers from different studies or countries can be misleading.

Abstract

Our findings suggest that geographic location plays a limited role in the reasons for the large variability of ADHD/HD prevalence estimates worldwide. Instead, this variability seems to be explained primarily by the methodological characteristics of studies.

Topics

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cognitive Abilities and Testing

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Psychiatry and Mental health

Tags

Biochemistry Biology Internal medicine Medicine MEDLINE Meta-analysis Psychology Systematic review

Conditions & symptoms

ADHD Difficulty focusing