There’s been a sharp increase in stimulant prescriptions for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially among women, according to a new study.

The findings suggest there has been progress in identifying and treating ADHD, the researchers said, while adding that the size of the increase also raises concerns about the condition being misdiagnosed or overdiagnosed .

Annual new prescriptions for ADHD medications increased by 157 per cent in Ontario from 2015 to 2023, from 275 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 708 in 2023, according to researchers at ICES, North York General, and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Among the findings is that stimulant prescriptions surged much more among women, particularly ages 18 to 44. They increased by 421 per cent and 368

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