Latest news with #PhilipShaw
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Is ADHD still skyrocketing among young people? Experts crunching the data suggest it's not
Health experts and parents have been raising the alarm about a surge in ADHD cases, particularly among young people – but the increase appears to have tapered off in recent years. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders, affecting an estimated 8 per cent of children and teenagers. Worldwide, around 366 million adults have ADHD, with symptoms including trouble focusing, restlessness, and impulsivity. But a new analysis, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests the apparent recent uptick in ADHD cases may be more due to recognition than reality. It looked at 40 studies on ADHD from 2020 onward. While there were major gaps in data, the highest-quality studies found no significant increase in the overall prevalence of ADHD in that time. Related Popular ADHD TikTok videos often do not accurately reflect symptoms, experts say They also found no meaningful increase in new diagnoses from 2020 to 2024, though they have been trending upward in recent decades. Researchers also noted that a growing number of people are getting tested and seeking support for ADHD. 'Our best evidence suggests the true rate of ADHD isn't increasing that much,' Philip Shaw, director of the King's Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, told journalists. 'My hunch is there's such a huge awareness of ADHD that it's often used as… the way young people express they are struggling at school and need help,' added Shaw, who was not involved with the new study. Related 'Historical stigma and ignorance': Why is Europe struggling to focus on adult ADHD? Researchers said the longer-term increase in ADHD cases is likely due to some combination of 'catch-up' diagnoses among people whose conditions were not detected when they were young, as well as changes to how ADHD is diagnosed, pandemic-era disruptions, social media, and other unknown reasons. Some have proposed that constant stimulation from social media and mobile phones – which has earned young people the title of the 'distracted generation' – could be driving an increase in ADHD. A 2023 study, for example, found a link between ADHD symptoms and excessive social media use, smartphone dependence, and internet addiction. Related 'Deeply concerning': Adults with ADHD may have shorter life expectancies But not all attention problems are ADHD, and 'it's too early to say what's causing what here,' Shaw said. 'We don't know what's the chicken and what's the egg'. Researchers said more studies are needed to confirm whether more people are actually developing ADHD than in the past, or if they are simply more likely to be diagnosed. 'We should be looking at these questions… and I think that is what's happening,' Shaw said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Is ADHD still skyrocketing among young people? Experts crunching the data suggest it's not
Health experts and parents have been raising the alarm about a surge in ADHD cases, particularly among young people – but the increase appears to have tapered off in recent years. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders, affecting an estimated 8 per cent of children and teenagers. Worldwide, around 366 million adults have ADHD, with symptoms including trouble focusing, restlessness, and impulsivity. But a new analysis, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests the apparent recent uptick in ADHD cases may be more due to recognition than reality. It looked at 40 studies on ADHD from 2020 onward. While there were major gaps in data, the highest-quality studies found no significant increase in the overall prevalence of ADHD in that time. Related Popular ADHD TikTok videos often do not accurately reflect symptoms, experts say They also found no meaningful increase in new diagnoses from 2020 to 2024, though they have been trending upward in recent decades. Researchers also noted that a growing number of people are getting tested and seeking support for ADHD. 'Our best evidence suggests the true rate of ADHD isn't increasing that much,' Philip Shaw, director of the King's Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, told journalists. 'My hunch is there's such a huge awareness of ADHD that it's often used as… the way young people express they are struggling at school and need help,' added Shaw, who was not involved with the new study. Related 'Historical stigma and ignorance': Why is Europe struggling to focus on adult ADHD? Researchers said the longer-term increase in ADHD cases is likely due to some combination of 'catch-up' diagnoses among people whose conditions were not detected when they were young, as well as changes to how ADHD is diagnosed, pandemic-era disruptions, social media, and other unknown reasons. Some have proposed that constant stimulation from social media and mobile phones – which has earned young people the title of the 'distracted generation' – could be driving an increase in ADHD. A 2023 study, for example, found a link between ADHD symptoms and excessive social media use, smartphone dependence, and internet addiction. Related 'Deeply concerning': Adults with ADHD may have shorter life expectancies But not all attention problems are ADHD, and 'it's too early to say what's causing what here,' Shaw said. 'We don't know what's the chicken and what's the egg'. Researchers said more studies are needed to confirm whether more people are actually developing ADHD than in the past, or if they are simply more likely to be diagnosed. 'We should be looking at these questions… and I think that is what's happening,' Shaw said.
Euronews
6 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
Is ADHD skyrocketing among young people? Experts think not
Health experts and parents have been raising the alarm about a surge in ADHD cases, particularly among young people – but the increase appears to have tapered off in recent years. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders, affecting an estimated 8 per cent of children and teenagers. Worldwide, around 366 million adults have ADHD, with symptoms including trouble focusing, restlessness, and impulsivity. But a new analysis, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests the apparent recent uptick in ADHD cases may be more due to recognition than reality. It looked at 40 studies on ADHD from 2020 onward. While there were major gaps in data, the highest-quality studies found no significant increase in the overall prevalence of ADHD in that time. They also found no meaningful increase in new diagnoses from 2020 to 2024, though they have been trending upward in recent decades. Researchers also noted that a growing number of people are getting tested and seeking support for ADHD. 'Our best evidence suggests the true rate of ADHD isn't increasing that much,' Philip Shaw, director of the King's Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, told journalists. 'My hunch is there's such a huge awareness of ADHD that it's often used as… the way young people express they are struggling at school and need help,' added Shaw, who was not involved with the new study. Researchers said the longer-term increase in ADHD cases is likely due to some combination of 'catch-up' diagnoses among people whose conditions were not detected when they were young, as well as changes to how ADHD is diagnosed, pandemic-era disruptions, social media, and other unknown reasons. Some have proposed that constant stimulation from social media and mobile phones – which has earned young people the title of the 'distracted generation' – could be driving an increase in ADHD. A 2023 study, for example, found a link between ADHD symptoms and excessive social media use, smartphone dependence, and internet addiction. But not all attention problems are ADHD, and 'it's too early to say what's causing what here,' Shaw said. 'We don't know what's the chicken and what's the egg'. Researchers said more studies are needed to confirm whether more people are actually developing ADHD than in the past, or if they are simply more likely to be diagnosed. 'We should be looking at these questions… and I think that is what's happening,' Shaw said. A growing number of people are turning to chatbots such as ChatGPT for support with their personal problems. According to a Harvard report, the demand for AI tools in 2025 suggests a paradigm shift. Previously, these tools were primarily used for technical purposes; however, as they have become more widely adopted, emotional support and personal development have garnered increased attention. Rita Marcelino, an IT consultant, and João Aranha, a business development representative, are two young people who turn to ChatGPT for help when they face difficult situations. Marcelino says she uses it "to combat some nervousness or to help me gain confidence before important moments such as a job interview, a presentation or even to structure thoughts when I feel more indecisive". Aranha explains that the chatbot's "immediate" availability is an advantage, as using it doesn't require "an appointment". "Like so many people of my generation, when I have a problem I want to solve it on the spot," he adds. Asked about the possibility of AI tools replacing psychotherapy, clinical psychologist Ana Rita Oliveira admits that chatbots can, in certain contexts, provide some kind of support in gathering information about managing emotions. She notes, however, that "therapeutic techniques and strategies are accessible to everyone, they're just a click away, but in psychotherapy, change is based on the relationship between the patient and the psychologist". Although Marcelino and Aranha use ChatGPT to deal with some challenges, they both also have therapy sessions with a certified psychologist, and describe the two experiences as "completely different". Aranha believes that the main difference is control, arguing that he is better able to control the "session" held with the chatbots. "The outcome of the conversation with ChatGPT always depends on our input, i.e. we're talking to someone who says and does what we want. A psychologist, on the other hand, has the ability to turn us round, cut off our train of thought and divert our attention whenever they want," he says. The increasing use of AI tools has led users, particularly young people, to self-diagnose. Online self-diagnosis is not new. However, chatbots allow people to ask questions about symptoms, illnesses and treatments, with personalised answers given in seconds. Oliveira, the psychologist, says some of her patients have arrived at their psychotherapy sessions convinced of their diagnosis, following online research they had done themselves. "We have to know how to filter what we read. Reaching a diagnosis involves much more than a process of checking symptoms. It involves assessing various dimensions of the individual and this may require human contact," she says. Oliveira is sceptical of the role that AI can play in therapy, saying that the use of such tools "exclusively harms the therapeutic process for patients" and "can lead to the work of psychologists being discredited". "I question whether this need for emotional support will ever be met purely through AI. If we have this need, it's because we feel this lack in the relationships we establish in our lives," she says.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Number of people with ADHD ‘probably isn't increasing that much'
Experts said that while there has been a rise in people being diagnosed with ADHD in the UK, the exact number is 'still probably lower than the best estimates' of the true number who have the condition. An increase in patients seeking assessments could possibly be down to greater awareness and less stigma, or disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Researchers also suggest spending a lot of time online could be creating a 'distracted generation', but that it is too early to draw conclusions. And while there is a link between social media and ADHD symptoms it is unclear 'what's driving what'. ADHD assessments are reported to be increasingly in demand, researchers said, which is putting a strain on health and education systems across the world. People with the neuro-developmental disorder may have trouble concentrating or sitting still, while other symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetfulness, finding it hard to follow instructions or organise time, and making impulsive decisions. Earlier this month, NHS England estimated for the first time that 2,498,000 people in England may have ADHD, which includes those without a diagnosis. Of the total, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. And more than half a million people (549,000) were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025, up from 416,000 a year earlier, according to figures. The study, led by King's College London, aimed to update reviews on ADHD prevalence by examining global research from 2020 onwards. Academics looked at more than 9,000 studies, with 40 from across 17 different countries – one of which included data from 42 countries – included in the final analysis. Professor Philip Shaw, director of the King's Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People at KCL's institute of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, said: 'It seems that our best evidence suggests that the true rate of ADHD probably isn't increasing that much. 'However, it's absolutely crystal clear that there is an increase in the number of people who are being clinically recognised or diagnosed as having ADHD in the United Kingdom. 'However, I will note that that rate is still probably lower than the best estimates we have of the rate of true ADHD in the population.' Dr Alex Martin, a lecturer in psychology and pandemic preparedness at KCL's institute of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, added: 'What we did find was that ADHD prevalence in adults and children has remained largely stable since 2020.' She said that some data being published is 'very much out of date', adding: 'This causes problems for healthcare policy makers internationally and means that services which are already under pressure may encounter increased demand without receiving additional support. According to Prof Shaw, the health service is 'playing catch-up' when it comes to ADHD, which he said could explain 'a marked uptick in the numbers of people seeking assessment'. Edmund Sonuga-Barke, a professor of developmental psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience at KCL, added there has been 'chronic under-recognition' in the history of ADHD, especially for certain groups and in particular women and girls. 'So part of the increase in diagnosis we've seen over the last 10 or so years is really a resetting or a recalibration, or a catch-up,' he said. Prof Shaw added: 'When I was at medical school and training as a psychiatrist, there was actually very little recognition of ADHD, particularly in young people and adults. 'Of course, there's both an increased recognition and – very welcome – less stigma around ADHD, which means that people are increasingly coming forward for assessment, and while we're working through that backlog, there are simply going to be long waiting lists.' Some other possibilities which Prof Shaw described as 'somewhat less likely' include a change in the threshold of how doctors diagnose ADHD and a shift in the understanding of the condition by children and young people. He added that his 'hunch' is that the 'huge awareness' of ADHD is 'that it's often used as a language of distress'. 'It's sometimes used, I suspect, the way that children and young people are expressing that they are struggling, particularly at school, and need help,' he said 'And of course, when a child is having problems that are impacting their life in a sustained way, they deserve a full mental health assessment. 'Even if the final diagnosis doesn't end up being ADHD, we may often, for example, find that this child is struggling with a problem with mood or anxiety.' Other societal issues could be driving the increase in assessments, including the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the use of social media. Prof Shaw said: 'Many of the skills of learning that kids have, how to focus, how to plan, how to organise themselves, has completely throw them out the loop for about two or three years, and this may well play a part in the uptick in the awareness and seeking of help for symptoms of inattention in particular. 'Many also point to a possible role for social media and the impacts it might be having on the developing brain. 'Now, for ADHD, there's a great degree of interest in the possibility that what's going on, is that the constant dividing of attention and multitasking online is creating, if you like, a distracted generation. 'We know there's an association between social media use and some symptoms of ADHD, but we don't know what's driving what, we don't know what's the chicken and what's the egg.' Prof Shaw said he has been 'struck' by some of his group's research findings into how 'variable' ADHD can be. He suggests ADHD 'is a dynamic challenge that changes with age'. Prof Sonuga-Barke added: 'I think the discovery that ADHD is a continuous risk dimension and not a fixed, natural category with clear biological boundaries may help explain why diagnostic rates are sensitive to changes in cultural values and beliefs, and clinical practices, and environmental risk exposures.'
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Number of people with ADHD ‘probably isn't increasing that much'
Experts said that while there has been a rise in people being diagnosed with ADHD in the UK, the exact number is 'still probably lower than the best estimates' of the true number who have the condition. An increase in patients seeking assessments could possibly be down to greater awareness and less stigma, or disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Researchers also suggest spending a lot of time online could be creating a 'distracted generation', but that it is too early to draw conclusions. And while there is a link between social media and ADHD symptoms it is unclear 'what's driving what'. ADHD assessments are reported to be increasingly in demand, researchers said, which is putting a strain on health and education systems across the world. People with the neuro-developmental disorder may have trouble concentrating or sitting still, while other symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetfulness, finding it hard to follow instructions or organise time, and making impulsive decisions. Earlier this month, NHS England estimated for the first time that 2,498,000 people in England may have ADHD, which includes those without a diagnosis. Of the total, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. And more than half a million people (549,000) were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025, up from 416,000 a year earlier, according to figures. The study, led by King's College London, aimed to update reviews on ADHD prevalence by examining global research from 2020 onwards. Academics looked at more than 9,000 studies, with 40 from across 17 different countries – one of which included data from 42 countries – included in the final analysis. Professor Philip Shaw, director of the King's Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People at KCL's institute of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, said: 'It seems that our best evidence suggests that the true rate of ADHD probably isn't increasing that much. 'However, it's absolutely crystal clear that there is an increase in the number of people who are being clinically recognised or diagnosed as having ADHD in the United Kingdom. 'However, I will note that that rate is still probably lower than the best estimates we have of the rate of true ADHD in the population.' Dr Alex Martin, a lecturer in psychology and pandemic preparedness at KCL's institute of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, added: 'What we did find was that ADHD prevalence in adults and children has remained largely stable since 2020.' She said that some data being published is 'very much out of date', adding: 'This causes problems for healthcare policy makers internationally and means that services which are already under pressure may encounter increased demand without receiving additional support. According to Prof Shaw, the health service is 'playing catch-up' when it comes to ADHD, which he said could explain 'a marked uptick in the numbers of people seeking assessment'. Edmund Sonuga-Barke, a professor of developmental psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience at KCL, added there has been 'chronic under-recognition' in the history of ADHD, especially for certain groups and in particular women and girls. 'So part of the increase in diagnosis we've seen over the last 10 or so years is really a resetting or a recalibration, or a catch-up,' he said. Prof Shaw added: 'When I was at medical school and training as a psychiatrist, there was actually very little recognition of ADHD, particularly in young people and adults. 'Of course, there's both an increased recognition and – very welcome – less stigma around ADHD, which means that people are increasingly coming forward for assessment, and while we're working through that backlog, there are simply going to be long waiting lists.' Some other possibilities which Prof Shaw described as 'somewhat less likely' include a change in the threshold of how doctors diagnose ADHD and a shift in the understanding of the condition by children and young people. He added that his 'hunch' is that the 'huge awareness' of ADHD is 'that it's often used as a language of distress'. 'It's sometimes used, I suspect, the way that children and young people are expressing that they are struggling, particularly at school, and need help,' he said 'And of course, when a child is having problems that are impacting their life in a sustained way, they deserve a full mental health assessment. 'Even if the final diagnosis doesn't end up being ADHD, we may often, for example, find that this child is struggling with a problem with mood or anxiety.' Other societal issues could be driving the increase in assessments, including the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the use of social media. Prof Shaw said: 'Many of the skills of learning that kids have, how to focus, how to plan, how to organise themselves, has completely throw them out the loop for about two or three years, and this may well play a part in the uptick in the awareness and seeking of help for symptoms of inattention in particular. 'Many also point to a possible role for social media and the impacts it might be having on the developing brain. 'Now, for ADHD, there's a great degree of interest in the possibility that what's going on, is that the constant dividing of attention and multitasking online is creating, if you like, a distracted generation. 'We know there's an association between social media use and some symptoms of ADHD, but we don't know what's driving what, we don't know what's the chicken and what's the egg.' Prof Shaw said he has been 'struck' by some of his group's research findings into how 'variable' ADHD can be. He suggests ADHD 'is a dynamic challenge that changes with age'. Prof Sonuga-Barke added: 'I think the discovery that ADHD is a continuous risk dimension and not a fixed, natural category with clear biological boundaries may help explain why diagnostic rates are sensitive to changes in cultural values and beliefs, and clinical practices, and environmental risk exposures.'
