ADHD: Drastic increase in diagnoses
Larissa Melville completed her traineeship in the editorial team of . After studying biology at Ludwig Maximilians University and the Technical University of Munich, she first got to know digital media online at Focus and then decided to learn medical journalism from scratch.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.MunichIn the last few years not only has public interest in the "fidgety syndrome" increased, but also the number of diagnoses made in children: since 2006 it has doubled.
Nowadays, ADHD (attention and hyperactivity disorder) is no longer a foreign word, and also not uncommon, as a current study by the Scientific Institute of the AOK (WIdO) clearly shows. The basis was the data of 3.5 million children between the ages of three and 17 insured with the AOK.
According to this, doctors diagnosed ADHD in 4.6 percent of children in 2012. Only confirmed diagnoses that the doctor had made in at least two quarters of a year were included. This means that the number of diagnoses has doubled within seven years - making ADHD one of the most frequently diagnosed developmental disorders.
Boys more often affected
The data analysis also confirmed that boys in particular are sent home with a diagnosis of ADHD. They were affected more than twice as often as girls. However, researchers have long been divided as to whether boys actually suffer from ADHD more often, or whether it is just often not recognized in girls. Because the symptoms can differ significantly in both.
ADHD from school enrollment
How great the risk of an ADHD diagnosis is apparently also depends on the school age. Children who start school at a very young age are more at risk than first graders who are older. Overall, 6.3 percent of the youngest and 5.4 percent of the oldest first graders were diagnosed with ADHD. However, as the researchers put it, this could also be due to the fact that the more childlike behavior of the younger ones, for example lack of concentration or playfulness, is more likely to be interpreted in the direction of ADHD.
Medication from school enrollment
But when you start school, not only does the number of diagnoses increase, the frequency of drug therapy also increases significantly. In 2012, every third elementary school child diagnosed with ADHD received medication, according to the WIdOs. In the case of preschool children, on the other hand, doctors are still reluctant and usually only prescribe occupational therapy and speech therapy.
In most cases, drug treatment for ADHD consists of administering drugs containing the active ingredient methylphenidant. This psychostimulant belongs to the group of amphetamines, which release the messenger substances dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain. Since the drugs are strong and can be associated with side effects, especially with long-term use, they should be prescribed with caution - experts warn against uncontrolled use.
Diagnosis secured?
In the guidelines on "hyperkinetic disorders" of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (DGKJP), a very carefully made diagnosis is required by trained child or adolescent psychiatrists. However, it is questionable whether this will always be implemented. According to the results of the BARMER GEK in the years 2009 to 2011 alone, over 85 percent of the diagnoses were made by general practitioners and paediatricians and without specialists.
Sources:
Schröder H., Schüssel K., Waltersbacher A .: ADHD: Diagnosis Fidgety Philipp - Analysis of the WIdO. AOK Forum Health and Society
Gross T.G. et al .: BARMER GEK doctor report
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