Barriers to Adult ADHD Diagnosis in Europe

Plain-language summary

Research suggests that adult women and young people with ADHD face a number of barriers to diagnosis in Europe. These include challenges in the diagnostic process itself, a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals, and difficulties when transitioning from child to adult mental health services. It is important to note that some of this evidence is limited, particularly regarding specific barriers for adult women and the experiences within the UK.

Key findings

• Adult women often face significant challenges in obtaining a timely and accurate ADHD diagnosis, with several recurring themes identified as barriers.
• Gender bias, overlapping symptoms, and limited awareness among healthcare professionals contribute to the underdiagnosis of adult females with ADHD in the UK.
• The transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult services presents considerable difficulties for young people with ADHD in Europe, potentially delaying or complicating diagnosis and ongoing care.

Studies cited (3)

1. Ranking Lived Barriers to ADHD Diagnosis in Adult Women — Ana Lucía Martínez, Yasmine Ben Salah, R. Mehta (2026, Psychology of Woman Journal, review)

   Objective: This study aimed to identify, categorize, and rank the lived barriers that adult women experience in obtaining an accurate and timely diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) through an integrated mixed-method approach. Methods and Materials: A sequential mixed-method design was employed, consisting of an initial qualitative phase followed by a quantitative ranking phase. In the qualitative phase, a systematic literature review was conducted until theoretical saturation, identifying six major thematic categories of diagnostic barriers using NVivo 14 software. Th

2. A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Adult Females with Late Diagnosis of ASD and ADHD in the UK — Victoria Wills, Rhyddhi Chakraborty (2026, Healthcare, other)

   Background: Adult females with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are frequently underdiagnosed due to gender bias, overlapping symptoms, and limited awareness among healthcare professionals. The scarcity of research on this subject—particularly in the UK context—underscores the need for further investigation. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of adult females receiving a late diagnosis of ASD and/or ADHD and to identify key barriers within the UK diagnostic pathway. This study addresses a critical knowledge

3. Transition from child and adolescent mental health care to adult services for young people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Europe: Barriers and recommendations — Maurice V, Russet F, Scocco P (2022, L'Encephale, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2022.01.012