SIGNIFICANT RISE OF ADHD DIAGNOSIS IN RECENT YEARS: HEREDITY, SOCIAL NETWORKS, OR THE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

          In recent years, the number of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses has increased significantly worldwide, raising important questions about the underlying causes of this trend. This study aims to analyze the factors that may explain the significant rise in ADHD diagnoses, focusing on three key dimensions: heredity, environmental influences, and the role of social and digital environments. The research is based on a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications indexed in the Scopus database over the last 20 years. The search query was conducted using the TITLE-ABS-KEY field and initially identified 3,457 articles. Following the PRISMA-based screening procedure, 1,941 articles were selected for further analysis. Bibliometric and science mapping techniques were applied using RStudio and VOSviewer to examine publication dynamics, geographical distribution of research, and conceptual structures within the literature. The results demonstrate a steady growth in scientific publications related to ADHD, indicating increasing interdisciplinary interest in the disorder and its determinants. Conceptual mapping revealed several key thematic clusters, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, developmental conditions, clinical characteristics, and treatment approaches. The findings suggest that heredity remains a central explanatory factor, while environmental conditions and contemporary digital environments increasingly influence the manifestation and recognition of ADHD symptoms. The study concludes that the rise in ADHD diagnoses is best understood within a multidimensional framework where genetic vulnerability interacts with environmental and socio-technological factors. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of ADHD etiology and highlight the need for further interdisciplinary research examining the complex interaction between biological, environmental, and digital influences.