Britain's ADHD Map Shows Areas With Highest and Lowest Rates; What Could Be the Consequences of Misdiagnosis and Wrong Drug Prescription?

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Doctors are prescribing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs at ten times the rate in some parts of England than others. According to new data, one in 100 people in some areas is currently taking ADHD drugs, whereas in nearby regions, it's only one in 1,000.

Country-Wide Variation in ADHD Diagnosis

In one study, the researchers recorded a key quantity of ADHD prescriptions in each National Health Service sub-region of England in April, along with the population data of patients in this particular area or region. These results were discussed as follows: "Mapping UK mental health services for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a national survey with a comparison of reporting between three stakeholder groups."

The research revealed that Wirral topped the charts as the area in Britain where people are most likely to be prescribed ADHD medication. It was found out that one in every 100 people in this region had an issue with being prescribed the tablets last April.

This data was ten times higher than in Rotherham, where only one ADHD medication prescription for every 1,000 people had been recorded.

Higher rates were also found to exist in areas like Hove and Brighton, where seven in every 1,000 were on ADHD drugs. The same trend was observed in North East Essex, where three in every 500 residents are found to take the stimulants.

According to University College London's professor of psychiatry, Joanna Moncrieff, the data outlined how some healthcare providers were more likely to diagnose ADHD than others. It also confirms how subjective the diagnosis of ADHD could be.

As Moncrieff points out, one psychiatrist in one service can think almost everybody has it, while another psychiatrist in another service thinks very few people have it. She said that some psychiatrists, especially in the independent sector, were very quick to diagnose people with ADHD, whereas others were far more cautious.

A person is also more likely to get a diagnosis if they are seen in a private clinic than if they go to the NHS.

Moncrieff said there was no medical reason why there had to be such differences in ADHD rates across the country. However, demographic factors could account for the variations.

ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that has a negative impact directly on the individual's important areas, which include academic, social, or occupational functioning.

What triggers the emergence of ADHD in some people is not known, but it is believed to involve genetic mutations that affect the brain function as well as the structure of an individual.

Consequences of Misdiagnosis and Wrong Drug Prescription

The findings of the research also show that the criteria for diagnosing ADHD are subjective. It further reveals that all people have symptoms of ADHD to one or other extent.

Experts watching the trend observe that over-diagnosis and mass-prescribing put public health at risk. According to them, one of the most likely reasons for such a wide variation was due to differences in the way ADHD is diagnosed.

The investigation adds to increasing concerns that British people are wrongly labeled with ADHD by private clinics, which charge hundreds of pounds for every appointment. These people are prescribed stimulant drugs to treat their condition, potentially risking side effects without reason.

Some of the common ADHD drugs in use include lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, and dexamfetamine allergy medications, which are also sold under brand names Elvanse, Ritalin, and Amfexa, respectively. ADHD drugs increase the concentration of certain chemicals in the brain.

About 80% of children with ADHD are known to respond positively to drugs. However, due to the side effects like anxiety and minor growth delay caused by such medication, people should not consume it for the wrong reasons.