Abstract / Summary
Background: In the 5 years since the publication of the original ADHD International Consensus Statement, a great deal of new evidence has emerged. This updated consensus statement reflects the current state of the science with respect to ADHD, with a goal of reducing misconceptions and stigma around the disorder.
Methods: Studies eligible for inclusion were published between January 1, 2021 and July 1, 2025 and were either: 1) large cohort studies of 2000 or more participants, or 2) meta-analyses of at least 5 studies or 2000 participants in which publication bias was considered. Eligible studies were summarized and consolidated by theme. Manuscript contents were reviewed and approved by 118 authors from 29 countries and 6 continents.
Results: Two hundred and fifty empirically-supported statements were generated from these studies, offering readers an up-to-date understanding of the most robust findings in the areas of prevalence, how genes and environmental factors shape ADHD, psychiatric and somatic comorbidities, cognitive and neurological differences among individuals with ADHD, functional outcomes, and treatments for the disorder.
Conclusions: Many of the conclusions of the original Consensus Statement are supported, but this update adds important nuance to some findings as a result of more recent evidence. It also highlights a few areas in which the balance of findings has shifted in the last 5 years, providing a transparent overview of the current scientific state of the field.