In this selective review of the literature, we present recent data on the epidemiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across the life-cycle. The worldwide ADHD prevalence rates are around 5.3% in children and adolescents and 2.5% in adults. The literature suggests that 40 – 60% of affected children continue having the disorder during adulthood, depending on the criteria for persistence applied. Demographic correlates such as gender, socio-economic stratum and ethnicity impact on prevalence rates in the community. There are clear barriers for treatment access even in developed countries.
Keywords: ADHD, hyperkinetic disorder, prevalence, epidemiology.