New data from DAK-Gesundheit reveal a significant increase in first-time ADHD diagnoses among children and teenagers in Germany in 2024, with the steepest rise seen in girls and 10 to 14-year-olds, prompting calls for improved early support and diagnosis methods.
New figures from DAK-Gesundheit suggest that first-time ADHD diagnoses among children and teenagers in Germany rose sharply in 2024, with the insurer estimating about 202,000 young people received a new diagnosis last year. That was 16% more than in 2023, according to an analysis seen by AFP and reported by stern.
The increase was not confined to one group. Boys were still diagnosed roughly twice as often as girls, but the rise was steeper among girls, where first diagnoses climbed 21% in a year and about 46% since 2020. Among boys, the increase was just over 14% year on year. The strongest growth was among 10 to 14-year-olds, where new diagnoses rose 22%, while children aged 5 to 9 remained the group most likely to receive a first diagnosis.
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is the most common mental health condition in children and adolescents and can continue into adulthood. In the analysis, Christoph Correll of Berlin’s Charité rejected suggestions that the trend reflected a fashion diagnosis or overdiagnosis. He said rising pressure, stress and the influence of social media may make an underlying genetic susceptibility more visible, while the issue has become more prominent in public debate.
The findings also fit a broader shift in how ADHD is being recognised in Germany. A separate report cited by Apotheken Umschau said adult diagnoses have nearly tripled since 2015, particularly among younger adults, while research published by the Robert Koch Institute has pointed to costs for families, the health system and society linked to newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents. Michael Hubmann, president of Germany’s association of paediatricians, said the sharp rise among girls may indicate that ADHD had long been underdiagnosed in them, while DAK chief Andreas Storm called for better coordination across youth care services so children can be supported earlier.
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