Rising number of people seeking ADHD diagnosis without treatment, say experts
Experts are raising concerns about the rising number of people seeking ADHD diagnoses without pursuing medical treatment. Psychiatrists suggest that some individuals view ADHD as an identity rather than a disorder, potentially driven by societal pressures and poor-quality private assessments.
Why it matters
This trend highlights a growing tension between mental health awareness and the potential medicalization of normal human behavior, impacting NHS resources and diagnostic standards.
In The Great ADHD Myth?, the NHS psychiatrist Max Pemberton says emphasis should be on improving schools’ accommodation of pupils rather than medicating children to fit a norm. Photograph: Minnow Productions In The Great ADHD Myth?, the NHS psychiatrist Max Pemberton says emphasis should be on improving schools’ accommodation of pupils rather than medicating children to fit a norm. Photograph: Minnow Productions Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Rising number of people seeking ADHD diagnosis without treatment, say experts Psychiatrists in Channel 4 documentary argue it is more a ‘social construct’ than a medical condition
Prefer the Guardian on Google People are increasingly seeking to an obtain an ADHD diagnosis without pursuing treatment, according to experts who have called for more research to understand why.
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