TOPLINE

Among people aged 5-59 years in Poland, annual prescription rates for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications increased markedly between 2012 and 2022. Although prescribing remained highest in children and adolescents, the steepest increases occurred in young adults, particularly women.

METHODOLOGY

• Researchers conducted a retrospective population-based pharmacoepidemiologic study using data from a nationwide prescription register in Poland to analyse prescribing trends for ADHD medication between 2012 and 2022.
• The analysis included 925,536 prescriptions issued to Polish residents aged 5-59 years, with data stratified by sex and age according to developmental stages — preschoolers (age, 5-6 years), children (age, 7-12 years), adolescents (age, 13-17 years), and adults (divided into subgroups from 18-24 to 53-59 years).
• Prescriptions were analysed for two approved ADHD medications used in children and adolescents older than 6 years and adults: methylphenidate (the only available psychostimulant in Poland during the study period, offered in immediate-release, controlled-release, and osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system formulations) and atomoxetine (the only approved non-psychostimulant).
• The annual prescription prevalence was reported per 100,000 population and compared across age and sex groups.

TAKEAWAY

• The annual prevalence of ADHD medication prescribing increased from 170.3 prescriptions per 100,000 population in 2012 to 591.5 prescriptions per 100,000 population in 2022, with increases observed across all age groups.
• Methylphenidate remained the most commonly prescribed ADHD medication, with its prevalence increasing from 168.3 to 481.5 prescriptions per 100,000 population; the largest rise was observed among adults aged 25-31 years.
• Atomoxetine prescribing increased markedly from 2.0 to 110.1 prescriptions per 100,000 population, with the greatest relative increase observed among young adults aged 18-24 years.
• The use of ADHD medications increased across all age groups, with the highest prescribing rates seen in children aged 7-12 years and adolescents aged 13-17 years; however, the steepest growth was seen among young adults aged 18-31 years, particularly women aged 18-24 years.

IN PRACTICE

"Despite this, adult prescribing rates in Poland remain low, suggesting underdiagnosis and limited transition support from pediatric to adult care. These findings underscore the need for improved ADHD diagnostic and treatment support, with particular focus on adults," the authors wrote.

SOURCE

This study was led by Marcin Rzeszutek, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. It was published online on June 19, 2026, in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

LIMITATIONS

The study relied on prescription records and could not determine whether the medications were dispensed or taken. The database lacked information on patient comorbidities, limiting the assessment of clinical complexity and potential treatment indications. Key pharmacoepidemiologic measures such as the defined daily dose, prescribed daily dose, and number of treated individuals were unavailable, limiting cross-country comparison.

DISCLOSURES

The study did not receive any funding. The authors declared having no competing interests.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.