ADHD on the rise

The CDC just released new data that indicates ADHD prevalence rose from 7% in 1998-2000 to 9% in 2007-2009.  In the south and midwest prevalence increased to 10%. Critics and skeptics will argue it’s over diagnosis and misdiagnosis due to our search for easy answers to behavioral or attention problems along with an increasingly pill happy society.  I would argue that while some of that may be true most of the increase is due to better awareness and detection, less stigmatization and improved access to mental health care.