ADHD: Private clinics exposed by BBC undercover investigatio

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Patients are being offered powerful drugs and told they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after unreliable online assessments, a BBC investigation has discovered.

Three private clinics diagnosed an undercover reporter via video calls.

But a more detailed, in-person NHS assessment showed he didn't have the condition.

The clinics say they conduct thorough assessments and follow national guidelines.

Panorama spoke to dozens of patients and whistleblowers after receiving tip-offs about rushed and poor-quality assessments at some private clinics, including Harley Psychiatrists, ADHD Direct and ADHD 360.

All three diagnosed undercover reporter Rory Carson with the neurodevelopmental disorder - a recognised medical condition which affects behaviour and can be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010.

The investigation found that:

Clinics carried out only limited mental health assessments of patients
Powerful drugs were prescribed for long-term use, without advice on possible serious side effects or proper consideration of patients' medical history
Patients posting negative reviews were threatened with legal action
The NHS is paying for thousands of patients to go to private clinics for assessments

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65534448

There has always been a market for speed. Such as students, truck drivers, and those interested in weight loss.

In the US there are "clinics" that "treat" people until their insurance runs out at which point they are declared "cured".

I suppose providing access to prohibited drugs is less unethical than exploiting people.

I got diagnosed with ADHD but not so I could have meds. I got offered meds for it but I turned it down because of most ADHD meds having insomnia as a side effect, and that will probably defeat the purpose. I like my sleep, it's important to me.

Anyway ADHD is part of who I am and I'm afraid that if I take meds it might remove some of my symptoms then some of my almost non-existent ASD symptoms might get pushed forward instead.

I heard antidepressants can be of good help at managing some of the more disabling symptoms of ADHD, like mood and emotions, and I'm on Sertraline which does help stabilise my mood. I don't want to keep putting different drugs into my body.

I went private in 2011 and got diagnosed with ADHD - Inattentive type but there was a long questionnaire and a face to face appointment with a specialist. Then I later got treatment on the NHS. Ritalin wasn't the miracle cure I was hoping for though and my GP won't prescribe it now anyway as my blood pressure is a bit on the high side.

I take two non-stimulant medications for my ADHD. They help as long as I take them consistently.

I think a good part of this is ADHD is diagnosed based on self-reported symptoms - like most mental conditions. Could you lie about your symptoms and get successfully diagnosed? Probably.