UK: 7 in 10 General Practitioners Say Adult ADHD Is Over-Diagnosed
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
ADHD labels have exploded from a few dozen cases to a massive swath of the population, and biology doesn't change that fast. What changed is the incentive: a diagnosis unlocks extra exam time, workplace concessions and benefits, so of course demand surges. Slapping a quasi-medical label on ordinary restlessness or disorganization traps people in a victim identity.
Pro-establishment narrative
There's no published evidence that ADHD is over-diagnosed in the U.K., with recorded rates sitting well below the true population prevalence, which means people are being missed, not invented. Rising numbers reflect better awareness, and at the largest child mental health service, 94% of those assessed had the diagnosis confirmed. The over-diagnosis story is a convenient excuse to deny treatment that demonstrably works.
Go Deeper
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