Does the healthcare profession attract more people to it with ADHD than the general population?

Harold Robert Meyer and The ADD Resource Center                             03/27/2025 

Based on the available research, it appears that the healthcare profession may attract a higher proportion of individuals with ADHD compared to the general population, although the exact prevalence varies across studies.

Prevalence in Healthcare

The prevalence of ADHD among healthcare professionals varies considerably:

• A 2024 study of PA school cohorts found approximately 30% of students had ADHD3.
• Other studies report ADHD prevalence among healthcare workers ranging from 1-24%3.
• A 2008 study estimated the average prevalence of adult ADHD across 10 countries to be 3.5% among workers in general1.

Factors Contributing to Higher Prevalence

Several factors may explain why healthcare professions could attract individuals with ADHD:

1. High-intensity environments: Many healthcare roles, such as emergency medicine, provide fast-paced, high-intensity work that can be well-suited to some ADHD traits4.
2. Empathy and personal experience: Some healthcare professionals with ADHD report that their personal experiences help them empathize with and better serve patients with similar conditions4.
3. Performance under pressure: Certain ADHD traits may enhance performance in high-stress medical situations3.
4. Creativity in treatment: ADHD can contribute to creative problem-solving in treatment planning3.

Considerations

It’s important to note that:

• The prevalence of ADHD in healthcare may be underreported due to stigma or fear of professional consequences5.
• Untreated ADHD can have significant impacts on medical training, practice, and patient care5.
• The healthcare environment can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, potentially leading to burnout or career changes35.

While the evidence suggests a potentially higher prevalence of ADHD in healthcare compared to the general population, more research is needed to definitively establish this trend and understand its implications for the healthcare workforce.

Based on the available research, it appears that the healthcare profession may attract a higher proportion of individuals with ADHD compared to the general population, although the exact prevalence varies across studies.

Prevalence in Healthcare

The prevalence of ADHD among healthcare professionals varies considerably:

• A 2024 study of PA school cohorts found approximately 30% of students had ADHD3.
• Other studies report ADHD prevalence among healthcare workers ranging from 1-24%3.
• A 2008 study estimated the average prevalence of adult ADHD across 10 countries to be 3.5% among workers in general1.

Factors Contributing to Higher Prevalence

Several factors may explain why healthcare professions could attract individuals with ADHD:

1. High-intensity environments: Many healthcare roles, such as emergency medicine, provide fast-paced, high-intensity work that can be well-suited to some ADHD traits4.
2. Empathy and personal experience: Some healthcare professionals with ADHD report that their personal experiences help them empathize with and better serve patients with similar conditions4.
3. Performance under pressure: Certain ADHD traits may enhance performance in high-stress medical situations3.
4. Creativity in treatment: ADHD can contribute to creative problem-solving in treatment planning3.

Considerations

It’s important to note that:

• The prevalence of ADHD in healthcare may be underreported due to stigma or fear of professional consequences5.
• Untreated ADHD can have significant impacts on medical training, practice, and patient care5.
• The healthcare environment can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, potentially leading to burnout or career changes35.

While the evidence suggests a potentially higher prevalence of ADHD in healthcare compared to the general population, more research is needed to definitively establish this trend and understand its implications for the healthcare workforce.

(Bibliography misplaced- sorry)

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