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Government review warns of possible ADHD and autism over-diagnosis
The review focuses on younger people, but the supplied coverage does not establish how often diagnoses may be inappropriate.
The BBC reports that a government review warned of a risk of moving from under-diagnosis to over-diagnosis of ADHD and autism. The review focuses on younger people. A related BBC explainer describes implications for the NHS, welfare, education and employment policies.
What holds up
- ✓Two BBC items cover the review, with one reporting its diagnostic warning and the other outlining policy implications.
- ✓The warning is framed as a risk, not a demonstrated rate of over-diagnosis.
What doesn't yet
- ?Both items are from the BBC; neither supplied extract provides the review's methods, data or diagnostic criteria.
- ?The summaries do not quantify over-diagnosis or establish that it has replaced under-diagnosis.
Ask before you share
- →What evidence and criteria does the review use to assess inappropriate diagnosis?
- →How does it distinguish over-diagnosis from improved recognition of previously unmet needs?