Submitted by la334 on Mon, 08/12/2025 - 10:48
In response to recent statements by Wes Streeting and the government-commissioned review into mental health, neurodevelopmental diagnoses and welfare claims, Head of Department Professor Tamsin Ford has issued a strong rebuttal.
Tamsin argues that the scientific evidence shows ADHD in the UK is systematically underdiagnosed, and that suggesting otherwise risks denying vital care to people who need it.
According to recent estimates, around 5% of children and 3–4% of UK adults are likely to meet diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
NHS-related data indicate that as many as 2.5 million people in England have ADHD — including many without a formal diagnosis.
Meanwhile, research based on GP records suggests only a small fraction of people with probable ADHD are recorded as diagnosed. In an extensive UK cohort study, just 0.32% had a formal diagnosis, indicating that only about 1 in 9 people with ADHD receive recognition in medical records.
Given those numbers, Ford warns that framing ADHD as “over-diagnosed” is misleading — and using that as justification to cut services or tighten access to support would leave many without the help they need. She argues that the rising recognition of ADHD reflects growing awareness of a previously underserved population, not an inflation of false diagnoses.
In her view, the narrative of over-diagnosis should not become an excuse to deny care or delay support. Instead, the evidence points toward widespread under-diagnosis and unmet need—which demands improved access to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for those affected.
Read Wes Streeting's original Opinion in the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/04/wes-streeting-ment...
The above views are those of Professor Ford and do not represent the opinions of the Department of Psychiatry or the University of Cambridge.