There is still a “huge wait list” for people seeking medication for ADHD - despite an 87% increase in the number of prescriptions since 2020, a consultant psychiatrist has said. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological condition that manifests itself in a number of ways, including inattentiveness and hyperactivity. 

Sometimes the condition is treated through medication, while other people benefit from behaviour therapies. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Dr Patricia Byrne said there are “a number of factors” that have led to the increase in ADHD prescriptions and rejected the assertion that there is a “reaction to prescribe quickly”. 

 “Certainly in Ireland, there's a huge wait list in order to be able to access any of the publicly serviced services,” she explained. 

“In Ireland, we have a number of different things; ADHD Ireland is an excellent service which provides and is working as part of the Government's care plan - providing intervention on a behavioural management of ADHD, psychoeducation, information about sports and schools.

“So, that's a really, really important pathway, the behavioural aspects of that. 

“Specialists, both adult and child and adolescent mental health services, then have a role for children with moderate to severe ADHD, who need more than just behavioural management.” 

Dr Byrne continued that “understanding and awareness of ADHD has massively increased” in recent years. 

This has led a huge number of referrals from people who suspect they or their child might have ADHD. 

“There's a huge range of people seeking assessment and diagnosis at this stage,” Dr Byrne said. 

“Traditionally, in Irish Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services services, it was less than 5%. 

“But currently, I would say that referrals to most CAMHS services querying ADHD is probably about half or even more of the referrals that the services receive.”

Main image: A person taking medication. Picture by: Tetra Images, LLC / Alamy Stock Photo