Overdiagnosis claim made on Australia's 'Today' show

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A top psychiatrist has made explosive claims that doctors are over-diagnosing children with autism and ADHD, which is contributing to soaring medical costs.

Today medical expert Dr Nick Coastworth spoke with Professor Patrick McGorry, the man behind the claims and he said he agrees with what Professor McGorry has said.

"I spoke to Pat yesterday and we are clearly over-diagnosing autism and ADHD," he said.

"You've got two different groups, the kids who are really suffering from it and require intensive therapy and then you've got kids on the margin of the diagnosis who are seeking the diagnosis for extra assistance, but maybe could do without it.

"And it's that group which is driving the over-diagnosis phenomenon that Pat's talking about."

Dr Coatsworth said part of the issue was these are criteria-based diagnoses and aren't like other health conditions where patients either have it or don't.

"There is a spectrum called the autism spectrum disorder, so there is going to be people on the cusp who have very mild illness but there is also services and financial benefit that's attached to having these diagnoses, he said.

"We have to be honest, the NDIS is partly responsible for this, particularly with autism, ADHD is not covered by the NDIS and nor should it be but this is what's driving the over-diagnosis."

Dr Coatsworth said with this over-diagnosis, psychiatrists are swamped, so the fees go up, with costs hitting around $3000 for the consultation to be officially diagnosed.

"Social media is undoubtedly responsible, you are rewiring kids when their brains are developing and they're sitting there and scrolling away and we wonder why there is an explosion in ADHD.

"That's why people over the age of 60 are saying kids need to get outdoors and run free, there was no mobile phones back then, no scrolling, so the amount of so-called ADHD was a lot less."