ADHD Underdiagnosed in England, Lancet Analysis Finds
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- Max Pemberton, an NHS doctor, presented Channel 4's "The Great ADHD Myth?" documentary claiming ADHD may not be a real neurodevelopmental condition
- Alexander Crichton of the Royal College of Physicians first described ADHD-like symptoms in 1798, noting patients had "the fidgets" and struggled to complete tasks
- The Lancet analysis published this month found only 1% of England's population is diagnosed with ADHD overall, well below global prevalence estimates of 5% in children and 2-3% in adults; among boys and young men, recorded rates are 2.9% and 3.6%
- Katya Rubia, a neuroscientist at King's College London featured in the documentary, said her interview was "cherry-picked" and called the programme "irresponsible" with "detrimental effects"
- The documentary showed Pemberton receiving an ADHD diagnosis via a quick online assessment, but real diagnosis requires multiple questionnaires, an interview, and symptoms causing significant impairment in two or more settings
- Evidence cited in the article shows ADHD treatments improve quality of life and self-esteem, while untreated ADHD increases risk of mental and physical ill health, substance abuse, criminality and suicide
- Mason, a boy featured in the documentary, was taken off medication in favour of nature walks and zero screen time; his schoolwork and behaviour declined, prompting his parents to restart the medication
Why it matters: With only 1% of England's population diagnosed against an estimated child prevalence of 5%, and untreated ADHD linked to higher risks of substance abuse, criminality and suicide, a high-profile documentary questioning the condition's reality could discourage families from pursuing the lengthy diagnostic process that research shows reduces those risks.
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