ADHD drugs prescribed with ‘incorrect diagnosis’

PATIENTS are being prescribed powerful drugs for ADHD by private clinics without a proper diagnosis, an investigation has found.

Concerns had been raised by patients and whistleblowers about rushed and poor quality online assessments at some private clinics.

The number of people being treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has risen by 80 per cent in five years, according to official figures.

Prescriptions for ADHD drugs among adults have also risen by 62 per cent between 2015/16 and 2020/21.

Experts and charities have said that the increase reflects a rising awareness of the condition, as well as the effect of the pandemic.

Three private clinics investigated by BBC’S Panorama programme diagnosed an undercover reporter with ADHD via video calls.

But an in-person, full psychiatric assessment, by an NHS leader for specialist adult ADHD, later found the reporter does not have the condition.

The BBC investigation found some private clinics carried out only limited mental health assessments on patients, who were then prescribed powerful drugs for long-term use without being advised on the possible side effects.

It’s understood that the NHS is sending thousands of patients to private clinics for assessments as it deals with significant numbers of people coming forward for checks.

In some areas it can take five years to secure an NHS assessment, according to the BBC, leaving some patients with no alternative but to go private.

Symptoms of ADHD can include fidgeting, inattentiveness, restlessness or being impulsive.

Dr Mike Smith, a consultant psychiatrist who leads a specialist adult ADHD service in the NHS, carried out the faceto-face assessment on the reporter.

Commenting on the investigation, Dr Smith said that he was concerned about the number of people who may have potentially “received an incorrect diagnosis and been started on medications inappropriately”.