There are various sources for statistical information on ADHD. They include national surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Other governmental and non-governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization also provide reliable statistics. Prevalence studies conducted by researchers generate much useful data, as do the healthcare industry’s analysis of prescription drug costs and use. Statistics from several sources are presented here under these categories:

• General Prevalence of ADHD
• ADHD and Co-occurring (Coexisting) Conditions
• ADHD and Long-Term Outcomes
• ADHD Treatment Data
• Other ADHD related Data including adoption, driving, diversion, hereditary risk, prison populations and suicide risk

When analyzing the results of prevalence studies, you may want to take into consideration the sample size; the population being surveyed—whether they are clinicians, parents, teachers, children, adults or a combination of these groups; the questions being asked; and the conclusions of the study.

Long-term studies of children diagnosed with ADHD show that ADHD is a lifespan disorder. Recent follow-up studies of children with ADHD show that ADHD persists from childhood to adolescence in 50%–80% of cases, and into adulthood in 35%–65% of cases (Owens et al. 2015). A 16-year follow-study of boys diagnosed with ADHD found that 77% continued to have full or subthreshold DSM-IV ADHD (Biederman et al. 2012). A study of girls ages 6–12 years with childhood ADHD found that 10 years later, they continued to have higher rates of ADHD and coexisting conditions, including higher rates of suicide attempts and self-injury, compared to girls without ADHD (Hinshaw et al. 2012).