Discussion
I’ve been meaning to watch Channel 4’s documentary The Great #ADHD Myth all week, not because I think I’ll agree with it’s assertion that ADHD is a a ‘social construct’ but because I wanted to see what tricks the latest fighters of a culture war on #neurodivergence are using.
Professor Gina Rippon, whose books I’ve read and seen speak, eloquently shreds the documentary here:
Pemberton’s own contribution comprised a demonstration of the diagnostic process. After handing over £1,200 for a private online assessment, he triumphantly reported that he had (almost instantaneously) been diagnosed with ADHD
If you pay me £1,200 (and sign a disclaimer that acknowledges that you are not receiving medical advice), I will diagnose you with a broken leg. This conclusively proves that broken legs are not real and therefore anyone who claims to have one is a faker.
It’s also notable that while any Daily Mail columnist may be able to pay and receive a private ADHD diagnosis for the purposes of a ‘scientific’ documentary…an NHS doctor doesn’t have to subsequently prescribe ADHD medication as a result and often won’t.
Therefore, most children have been waiting a very long time for an NHS or Right to Choose diagnosis. A private diagnosis is not massively helpful for most kids.
@david_chisnall @JugglingWithEggs
I would be tempted to give the patient a painful blow to the leg in the interests of verisimilitude.
Rippon is a renowned expert on brain imaging, so it’s worth reading her take on how badly Max Pemberton, the documentary host fundamentally misunderstood (or wilfully skewed) the words of Prof Katya Rubia when asked if #ADHD could be spotted in a single brain image.
It’s also worth noting that Rubia herself had said her words were highly edited and has withdrawn support:
Prof Katya Rubia whose views on #ADHD brain imaging were misrepresented in the documentary:
“Biased programmes like this one that push their view of ADHD as a mythical entity are irresponsible and will have detrimental effects, in particular at a time in our society where mental health conditions are escalating and where there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and early treatment to prevent further damage down the line”
Rubia went on to say:
“Parents of children with #ADHD may take their children off medication as seen on the programme, which could potentially lead to an increase of the risk of longer-term adverse outcomes of untreated ADHD such as increased anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem, greater risk of substance abuse, suicide, more antisocial behaviour and poorer academic achievement … and reduced employment prospects later in life.”
Channel 4 are stirring the pot…but the impact is real.
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