Europe Adopting US Strategies to Diagnose and Treat ADHD

Tuesday 11 June 2013, Amsterdam

The impending publication of the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) next month may affect diagnosis rates of conditions such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), both in the US and worldwide, states new analysis by GBI Research.

The new report states that the attitudes of parents, physicians, and wider society towards behavioural disorders can often impact the treatment market, and diagnosis rates of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be impacted by newer and superior diagnosis guidelines.

ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder among children and adolescents, defined by inappropriate behavioural tendencies of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD was traditionally considered a childhood disorder, but there is growing awareness that ADHD is also a significant source of impairment for many adults. Neurocognitive, neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies suggest that brain dysfunctions are involved in the central components of the syndrome in children and adults.

European countries are increasingly adopting the US diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV), resulting in more and more diagnoses of ADHD. Clearer guidelines for diagnosis of ADHD in both adults and children and revisions to ADHD treatment methods will be released in the DSM-V in 2013, superceding the DSM-IV which was last revised in 2000. This may possibly result in a rise in ADHD diagnoses in the US, and potentially further afield.

The US leads the pack in terms of ADHD treatment, holding the highest diagnosis rate for both adults and children. The ADHD market has shown a steady increase in the number of prescriptions in the pediatric population, although this has started to slow down and has potentially reached a plateau. The market will continue to grow, however, due to the increase in the number of adult patients being diagnosed and treated. A relatively open attitude to psychiatric treatment, as well as direct-to-consumer and physician marketing, is leading to increased rates of adult ADHD diagnosis in the US.

Currently, disease recognition is much less frequent in Europe than in the US, resulting in a much smaller market size. Cultural skepticism over ADHD affects the diagnosis rate in certain countries, with stigmas over mental illness and concern over children being victimized as a result of their diagnosis causing an aversion to medical intervention for behavioural issues. Many parents also argue against using medication, particularly stimulants, on young children.

Although Europe trails behind the US in terms of market revenue, ADHD therapeutics markets are expected to show strong growth, with Spain predicted to witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8% over 2012-2018, beating the US CAGR of 6% during the same future period. European markets have not yet neared the saturation point that ADHD therapeutics are facing in the US, and there is an optimistic view for ambitious growth in this region.

The ADHD market in the US was valued at $3,831m in 2011, and is expected to grow to reach $6,260m by 2018. In contrast, the ADHD therapeutics market across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK was valued at $135m in 2011, and is predicted to reach approximately $182m in 2018.