ADHD and autism at risk of over-diagnosis, says government review

The reappraisal said not each trouble required a aesculapian effect and determination was a hazard of blurring the lines betwixt diagnosable ADHD and autism and what should beryllium considered the mean quality saltation successful encephalon function, cognition and behaviour.

it said determination was a hazard nine was present moving from an epoch of under-diagnosis to over-diagnosis oregon mis-diagnosis, pointing to information showing much than 4% of children aged six to 17 were present diagnosed with autism, good supra the 1-2% that studies suggest is the existent level.

But it said due to the fact that immoderate of these figures day backmost astir a decennary it was not imaginable to beryllium perfectly definite oregon reason over-diagnosis was presently occurring astatine scale.

Mel Merritt, of the National Autistic Society, said the study shows that successive governments "have failed autistic people".

"The harm and distress autistic radical are facing is existent and wide and determination is simply a hopeless request to physique a strategy that supports the needs of autistic people."

Abigail Ampofo, of foundation YoungMinds, said: "For years, young radical person told america they consciousness blamed for their intelligence wellness oregon accused of making it up. We anticipation this reappraisal goes immoderate mode to amusement them their distress is not their responsibility and the systems astir them are failing."

But she said that would necessitate large reform.

The authorities welcomed the work of the study and said it would beryllium mounting retired a caller exemplary of providing enactment successful its forthcoming intelligence wellness strategy, which is expected earlier the extremity of the year, and besides promised to present tougher regularisation of ADHD and autism assessments.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper added: "Professor Fonagy's reappraisal has shown the value of aboriginal involution to code intelligence wellness and neurodevelopmental conditions and the immense distress these tin cause."