The global surge in ADHD diagnosis has more to do with marketing than medicine, according to experts. Diagnosis rates and prescriptions of stimulant drugs are soaring compared with five years ago, but experts say ADHD is 'more of an economic and cultural plague than a medical one'. After examining the growth of ADHA in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Brazil, they concluded there are five trends which contribute to its growth. The global surge in ADHD diagnosis and treatment with drugs has more to do with marketing than medicine, and in years to come we may regret treating children with drug, experts warn in a paper (file pic)
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ADHD is 'an economic and cultural plague than a medical one'
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Diagnosis and treatment rates are soaring compared to five years ago
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Experts said five key trends  have contributed to ADHD growth
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Pharmaceutical companies lobby for drug treatment for the condition
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Support groups often work with pharmaceutical companies
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Treatment of ADHD with talking therapies has eroded in favour of drugs
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U.S. guidelines with low thresholds for ADHD diagnosis has been adopted
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Web use makes self-diagnosis easy and people pester doctor for drugs
Growth in Italy and @placeholder has been slower, in part due to those countries' more restrictive pharmaceutical drug laws.