ABSTRACT
ADHD is viewed as a neuro-developmental disorder throughout the world. Although there is some international consensus regarding ADHD, the methods and prevalence of treatment vary greatly from one country to another.
Social and cultural factors are keys to understanding trends in ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Consumption rates of methylphenidate have increased dramatically across the world; in many countries, there have been five-to-seven-fold increases in consumption rates over the past decade. However, different diagnoses and treatments among different countries have also been observed. For example, less than 1% of English children are diagnosed as having ADHD compared to approximately 5% of American children. People in Western cultures value autonomy and independence, while people in East Asia feel a very strong moral obligation associated with learning and education. In addition, East Asian children are more accepting of what Americans might call excessive parental involvement. Interpretation of behaviour also varies among parents, healthcare providers and school personnel. Parents interpret their observations of children’s behaviour based on their own socio-cultural and ethnic experience, in combination with what they have been taught about ADHD. An analytic overview of ADHD around the world will be presented.
