Foto vänster: PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT Nyhetsbyrån
Foto höger: DANIEL CONSTANTINI/DN
Earlier this week, Christian Rück, appeared on Sveriges Radio to discuss the findings of a recent Socialstyrelsen report. The report revealed that 70% of medical visits at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service (BUP) are dedicated to investigating and treating ADHD. This significant figure raises questions about the implications for BUP’s ability to support other mental health issues and the surge in demand for ADHD-related care.
Below is a transcript of Christian Rück’s insights from the program:
What are your thoughts on the fact that 70% of medical visits at BUP are used to diagnose and treat ADHD?
“It sounds like an incredibly high number when you hear 70%. However, if you read the report, you’ll see that it was already 50% back in 2011, when there were three times fewer patients. So, any massive displacement effect would have to have been present for a long time. But of course, it’s striking that one diagnosis—which barely got any attention when I trained as a psychiatrist—is now completely dominant in medical work.”
What is your perspective on the sharp increase in ADHD diagnoses?
“The diagnosis clearly resonates with people and feels very meaningful to them. It’s widely discussed and top-of-mind for many. Additionally, we have a specialized private sector for ADHD evaluations, where people seek a diagnosis specifically for ADHD. If evaluations are set up in this way, and patients are funneled into the system, it likely leads to more diagnoses of this particular type because they’re being evaluated for one specific condition.”
So, does it seem like many people actively want an ADHD diagnosis?
“Yes, and that’s not surprising. A diagnosis grants access to medication that can be effective. It also offers support in schools that might not otherwise be available. So, it’s understandable that there’s a strong demand for this diagnosis.”
Is it a good thing that so many people are getting this diagnosis, or are there risks involved?
“It’s beneficial in itself, but now we’re seeing very high rates of diagnosis. The report states that up to 15% of boys receive an ADHD diagnosis. That’s much higher than earlier estimates of how common ADHD is thought to be. This raises questions about whether some individuals just below the threshold are also being diagnosed. For them, the benefits of a diagnosis might not be as significant, and there could be problematic aspects of diagnosing people who don’t have severe issues.”
What solutions could address the growing demand for help and BUP’s limited resources?
“One solution is for society to adapt. We need to make it easier for people with certain types of challenges to function. Schools are a clear example of this.
Additionally, I think we need to talk about ADHD differently. It’s not as simple as some people having ADHD and others not. ADHD is a way of describing traits that all people have to varying degrees. People with attention difficulties, for example, should be able to receive help, support, or have a place in society even without a diagnosis if their problems aren’t severe.
Finally, healthcare needs to reorganize to meet this demand. It’s not just about needing more resources but also about how the work is structured .”
Rücklab - Psychiatry research at Karolinska Institutet 