Facts About ADHD in Adults

At a glance

  • Public health professionals and healthcare providers can use national data on ADHD to gain a better understanding of ADHD diagnosis and treatment patterns among adults.
  • Information on ADHD can also be used by policymakers to help inform clinical guidelines and develop strategies to address late diagnoses and medication shortages as well as highlight the role of telehealth in ADHD care.
  • ADHD can look different in adults than it does in children.
  • People access their ADHD care in different ways.
  • CDC collects data on ADHD in adults and works with partners to improve the lives of people with ADHD.
Young adult female patient talking with doctor

Data on ADHD in adults

National data on ADHD among U.S. adults12

Data infographic on ADHD in adults. Data comes from CDC's National Center on Health Statistics' Rapid Surveys System.
CDC collects data on ADHD in adults to help improve the lives of people with ADHD.

Additional findings1

  • More than half of adults with ADHD were diagnosed in adulthood.
  • Among adults taking stimulant medication, a majority (71.5%) reported difficulty getting their prescriptions filled due to lack of availability.
  • However, about one-third of adults are not receiving any type of ADHD treatment.

DATA FOR ACTION‎

• Public health professionals and healthcare providers can use national data to gain a better understanding of ADHD diagnosis and treatment patterns among U.S. adults.

• Policymakers can use information on diagnosis and treatment to help inform clinical care guidelines, develop strategies to address late diagnoses and medication shortages and highlight the role of telehealth in ADHD care.

Keep Reading:
Find the latest CDC data on ADHD in adults

Commentary

Clinical Implications of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: What New Data on Diagnostic Trends, Treatment Barriers, and Telehealth Utilization Tell Us3

The commentary highlights the importance of emerging treatment guidelines, improved models of care to better support ADHD management in clinical practices and addresses the prevalence of adult ADHD. Read the full article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Prescription in Peril: Navigating Adult ADHD, Stimulant Shortages, and the Telehealth Lifeline4

ADHD affects many adults. Some adults may have experienced ADHD symptoms but have never received a diagnosis. From receiving an ADHD diagnosis at a later-age to finding treatment and support services, find out more about what living with ADHD as an adult can look like. Read this real-life perspective from an adult with ADHD in STAT News.

What to know about ADHD in adults

While it is normal to sometimes have trouble focusing or to feel a bit restless, for people with ADHD, such problems can be severe and last over time. In adults, ADHD can cause difficulty at work and with relationships. ADHD may also make it difficult to keep healthy habits and avoid health risks.

Concerned adult patient sitting on a couch talking with a doctor
Talking with your doctor about ADHD is an important first step.

What to look for‎

ADHD can look different in adults than it does in children. Find out more about ADHD diagnosis and treatment in adults.



ADHD in Adults: An Overview

Where people access their ADHD care

An ADHD diagnosis can be made by a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist or psychologist, or by a primary care provider, like a family medicine doctor or nurse practitioner.

Young adult male talking with therapist about ADHD symptoms.
Contact your healthcare provider to talk about any symptoms you may be experiencing.

ADHD care providers and treatment services

Outpatient clinical care

Healthcare claims data from Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance plans (also known as private insurance) show that2

  • Primary care physicians, such as family practice and internal medicine doctors, are the main source of care for adults with ADHD.
  • Nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurses also provide ADHD care to adults, providing care for nearly 3 in 10 adults with Medicaid.
  • About 1 in 4 adults with private insurance receive ADHD care from a psychiatrist.

Telehealth services

ADHD care can also be delivered through telehealth. Telehealth involves healthcare delivery and education over a distance using electronic and telecommunication technologies. Currently, telehealth can be delivered in several different ways.

  • Many adults use telehealth services to access ADHD care.12
  • Telehealth may help access to treatment by reducing barriers to care such as transportation, time, and provider availability.5

For more information about diagnosis and treatment of ADHD throughout the lifespan, visit websites for the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Resource Center on ADHD (NRC), a program of CHADD–Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

What CDC is doing

CDC supports the health and well-being of adults with ADHD or who may be seeking care for ADHD related symptoms by helping to provide the most current and accurate information.

CDC is collecting data

CDC is developing questions related to ADHD in adults that will be added to national surveys to help us learn more about how many adults have an ADHD diagnosis, what other types of mental and physical health conditions they may have, and what treatments they may receive. CDC's National Center on Health Statistics is also able to provide timely data on ADHD through its Rapid Surveys System.

CDC is working with partners

CDC funds the National Resource Center on ADHD (NRC), a program of CHADD–Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Their website has links to information for people with ADHD and their families.

The NRC operates a call center (1-866-200-8098) with trained staff to answer questions about ADHD.

CHADD's National Resource Center on ADHD Logo
National Resource Center on ADHD, a program of CHADD
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Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
  1. Staley B, Robinson L, Claussen AH, et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October – November 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024:73:XX-XX.
  2. Danielson ML, Claussen AH, Arifkhanova A, Gonzalez MG, Surman C. Who Provides Outpatient Clinical Care for Adults With ADHD? Analysis of Healthcare Claims by Types of Providers Among Private Insurance and Medicaid Enrollees, 2021. J Atten Disord. 2024;28(8):1225-1235.
  3. Mattingly G, Childress A. Clinical implications of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: What new data on diagnostic trends, treatment barriers, and telehealth utilization tell us. J Clin Psychiatry. 2024;85(4):24com15592.
  4. Prescription in Peril: Navigating Adult ADHD, Stimulant Shortages, and the Telehealth Lifeline. October 2024. STAT News. https://www.statnews.com/2024/10/10/adhd-medication-shortage-telehealth-dea-congress/
  5. Hong J, Mattingly GW, Carbray JA, et al. Expert consensus statement for telepsychiatry and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. CNS Spectr. Published online May 20, 2024.