The prescriptions have doubled since 2020!

Impossible concentration, prescriptions have doubled since 2020! permanent agitation, poorly controlled impulsiveness … Therefore, ADHD, long confined to the benches of American schools, is now essential in French medical offices. Furthermore,

To the point that methylphenidate prescriptions, flagship processing of this neurodevelopmental disorder, have more than doubled since 2020. Nevertheless, Catéthagene or societal runaway phenomenon?

ADHD: a very uneven diagnosis – Prescriptions have doubled since 2020! – Prescriptions have doubled since 2020! new

The High Authority for Health (HAS) estimates that between 3.5 % and 5.6 % of children in France would be affected by ADHD. For example, On the adult side, the figures are around 2.5 %. For example, But the recognition of the disorder is late, sometimes chaotic. In addition,

In 2024, the HAS published new recommendations for children:

prescriptions have doubled since 2020! new
• better diagnose,
• not to medicalize excessively,
• Promote psycho-educational approaches. Nevertheless,

But families still often face the obstacle courses. Rareness of specialists, territorial disparities, waiting prescriptions have doubled since 2020! lists for several months … All this delays care and increases inequalities.

ADHD: better locate or prescribe too much? – Prescriptions have doubled since 2020! – Prescriptions have doubled since 2020! new

Increasing prescriptions: +154 % since 2020

Methylphenidate prescriptions increased by 154 % between 2020 and 2024, according to a health insurance report. This drug, derived from amphetamines, acts on dopamine and noradrenaline to regulate attention and impulsive behavior.

Until 2022, it was mainly reserved for children and adolescents. But recently. it has also been reimbursed among adults. and authorized prescribers have multiplied: neuropediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists, and even pediatricians in the city since 2021. A welcome enlargement, but which also raises the question of follow prescriptions have doubled since 2020! new -up.

Children born in December more diagnosed than the others

A disturbing fact comes out of a study. carried out on more than 4 million children per Epi-Phare. At equal school competence. a child born in December prescriptions have doubled since 2020! has 55 % chance in addition to being prescribed methylphenidate only if it was born in January. Simply because he is the youngest in his class, so potentially less mature.

The diagnosis would therefore sometimes be influenced by the school context more than by clinical reality. A bias that has recognized and calls for monitoring.

Effective but not trivial treatments

Methylphenidate is considered one of the most effective drugs in pediatric psychiatry. It clearly improves the concentration and management of emotions.

But its side effects are very real:

Close medical surveillance is therefore essential. Especially since treatment alone is not enough. prescriptions have doubled since 2020! new Global management, including parental support, tutoring, behavioral therapies, remains the basis.

New psychostimulants: towards a diversification of treatments by 2025

France today only authorizes methylphenidate. But other psychostimulants such as lisdexamfetamine or dexamfetamine could arrive on the market by prescriptions have doubled since 2020! 2025. A request is underway. This diversity would make it possible to adapt the treatment to the patient’s profile.

But it is also accompanied by increased vigilance. because supply tensions, the risks of diversion, or the out -of -school use already raises questions.

NAMELY

The health crisis put an unexpected spotlight on ADHD. Confainment, remote school, family stress … so many factors that have highlighted in some children of attention so far not very visible. Consequence, a notable increase in diagnostics and therefore prescriptions since 2020, as confirmed JAMA Pediatrics (2023) and health insurance.

prescriptions have doubled since 2020! new