B1 Other refereed article (e.g., editorial, letter, comment) in a scientific journal
ADHD (over) diagnosis: fiction, fashion and failure
Authors: Cortese, Samuele; Daley, David; Hollis, Chris; Rae, Sarah; Ani, Cornelius; Asherson, Philip; Downs, Johnny; Dubicka, Bernadka; Foreman, David; Green, Jonathan; Heyman, Isobel; Hodes, Matthew; Kyriakopoulos, Marinos; Liang, Holan; Majumder, Pallab; McArdle, Paul; Muller-Sedgwick, Ulrich; Newlove-Delgado, Tamsin; Nicholls, Dasha; Ougrin, Dennis; Price, Anna; Russell, Abigail; Salazar-de-Pablo, Gonzalo; Santosh, Paramala; Sayal, Kapil; Scott, Stephen; Shaw, Philip; Simonoff, Emily; Wickersham, Alice; Wilkinson, Paul; Young, Susan; Ford, Tamsin
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Publication year: 2026
Journal: British Journal of Psychiatry
Article number: aakag013
ISSN: 0007-1250
eISSN: 1472-1465
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10546
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10546
When thoroughly assessed, the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children/adolescents is estimated at 5%. There is no evidence that ADHD is over-diagnosed in the UK. Indeed, available data point to under-diagnosis, even though rigorous updated post-COVID-19 pandemic data are not available. Some cases may be misdiagnosed due to low-quality assessment, poor adherence to national guidance or inappropriate differential diagnosis. Beyond the controversy around over- or under-diagnosis and over-medicalisation of ordinary behaviours or emotions, the main issue is that UK clinical services cannot adequately support individuals with ADHD who need help. There is a risk that the narrative claiming 'ADHD is over-diagnosed' could be used to deny people with properly-diagnosed ADHD the care they deserve.
Funding information in the publication:
S.C., National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Professor (NIHR303122), is funded by the NIHR for this research project. S.C. is also supported by NIHR grants NIHR203684, NIHR203035, NIHR130077, NIHR128472, RP-PG-0618-20003 and by grant 101095568-HORIZONHLTH-2022-DISEASE-07-03 from the European Research Executive Agency. A.P. is funded by NIHR Advanced Fellowship (NIHR305363). A.W. is funded by an NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award (NIHR305704). Many authors receive funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the NIHR. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, or the Department of Health and Social Care.
