A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade
(1) Background: ADHD is recognized as one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD is estimated at 5.3%; however, estimates vary as a function of a number of factors, including diagnostic methods, age, sex and geographical location. A review of studies is nee...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1051 |
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| author | Stacey D. Espinet Gemma Graziosi Maggie E. Toplak Jacqueline Hesson Priyanka Minhas |
| author_facet | Stacey D. Espinet Gemma Graziosi Maggie E. Toplak Jacqueline Hesson Priyanka Minhas |
| author_sort | Stacey D. Espinet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: ADHD is recognized as one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD is estimated at 5.3%; however, estimates vary as a function of a number of factors, including diagnostic methods, age, sex and geographical location. A review of studies is needed to clarify the epidemiology of ADHD in Canada. (2) Methods: A search strategy was created in PubMed and adapted for MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Papers were included if they examined diagnosed ADHD prevalence and/or incidence rates in any region of Canada, age group and gender. A snowball technique was used to identify additional papers from reference lists, and experts in the field were consulted. (3) Results: Ten papers included in this review reported on prevalence, and one reported on incidence. One study provided an overall prevalence estimate across provinces for adults of 2.9%, and one study provided an overall estimate across five provinces for children and youth of 8.6%. Across age groups (1 to 24 years), incidence estimates ranged from 0.4% to 1.2%, depending on province. Estimates varied by age, gender, province, region and time. (4) Conclusions: The overall Canadian ADHD prevalence estimate is similar to worldwide estimates for adults. Most studies reported on prevalence rather than incidence. Differences in estimates across provinces may reflect the varying number of practitioners available to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD across provinces. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of ADHD in Canada, a study is needed that includes all provinces and territories, and that considers estimates in relation to age, gender, ethnicity, geographical region, socioeconomic status and access to mental healthcare coverage. Incidence rates need further examination to be determined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:48:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce0745a71b5448f98ddd3430eb27763f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:48:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce0745a71b5448f98ddd3430eb27763f2023-11-30T23:18:15ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252022-08-01128105110.3390/brainsci12081051A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past DecadeStacey D. Espinet0Gemma Graziosi1Maggie E. Toplak2Jacqueline Hesson3Priyanka Minhas4CADDRA—Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, Toronto, ON M5A 3X9, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaFaculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada(1) Background: ADHD is recognized as one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD is estimated at 5.3%; however, estimates vary as a function of a number of factors, including diagnostic methods, age, sex and geographical location. A review of studies is needed to clarify the epidemiology of ADHD in Canada. (2) Methods: A search strategy was created in PubMed and adapted for MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Papers were included if they examined diagnosed ADHD prevalence and/or incidence rates in any region of Canada, age group and gender. A snowball technique was used to identify additional papers from reference lists, and experts in the field were consulted. (3) Results: Ten papers included in this review reported on prevalence, and one reported on incidence. One study provided an overall prevalence estimate across provinces for adults of 2.9%, and one study provided an overall estimate across five provinces for children and youth of 8.6%. Across age groups (1 to 24 years), incidence estimates ranged from 0.4% to 1.2%, depending on province. Estimates varied by age, gender, province, region and time. (4) Conclusions: The overall Canadian ADHD prevalence estimate is similar to worldwide estimates for adults. Most studies reported on prevalence rather than incidence. Differences in estimates across provinces may reflect the varying number of practitioners available to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD across provinces. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of ADHD in Canada, a study is needed that includes all provinces and territories, and that considers estimates in relation to age, gender, ethnicity, geographical region, socioeconomic status and access to mental healthcare coverage. Incidence rates need further examination to be determined.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1051ADHDprevalenceepidemiologyprevalenceincidenceCanada |
| spellingShingle | Stacey D. Espinet Gemma Graziosi Maggie E. Toplak Jacqueline Hesson Priyanka Minhas A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade Brain Sciences ADHD prevalence epidemiology prevalence incidence Canada |
| title | A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade |
| title_full | A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade |
| title_short | A Review of Canadian Diagnosed ADHD Prevalence and Incidence Estimates Published in the Past Decade |
| title_sort | review of canadian diagnosed adhd prevalence and incidence estimates published in the past decade |
| topic | ADHD prevalence epidemiology prevalence incidence Canada |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1051 |
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