Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and treatment among adults in the United States have increased over the past few decades. However, there are gender, racial, and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and treatment, and underdiagnosis persists. Through an environmental scan and key informant interviews with clinical experts and people with lived experience of being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, this project explores the process by which ADHD is diagnosed in adults, barriers and facilitators to diagnosis, and opportunities to improve the diagnostic process. The report also includes a journey map that illustrates the common paths to receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.
This research was compiled or funded by HHS/ASPE’s Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP). Additional research in this area is available at the ASPE Behavioral Health page.
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Available Reports:
Related Resources:
- Mental Health Treatment Need and Treatment System Capacity Issue Brief (2021) [HTML version also available]