Colman Noctor: Not everyone who struggles to focus has ADHD

Instead of only asking what is wrong with individuals, perhaps we should also ask what is wrong with the world they live in

Colman Noctor: "The spike in ADHD diagnoses has prompted a vigorous debate about the legitimacy of these presentations. Are we finally recognising a condition that has long gone undiagnosed, or are we pathologising normal variations in behaviour and attention?" Picture: iStock.

Once a niche childhood condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has become one of the most common mental health problems. 

The increase in diagnosis is not just in children, but also in adults. The numbers are staggering. In the US, ADHD diagnoses in children increased by 42% between 2003 and 2011, and, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adult diagnoses have risen even faster in the past decade.