With up to 400,000 UK children believed to have ADHD and diagnosis for the condition at an all time high, a neurologist in America is still convinced that ADHD "doesn’t exist".
Dr Richard Saul is arguing that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is simply a collection of various symptoms and not a disease.
Dr Saul thinks that too many children are being misdiagnosed and doesn't believe the disorder should be listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. In his book, he says: “ADHD makes a great excuse”.
In doing his own research, Dr Saul found some cases he believes proves this theory. or example, he mentions on instance in which an impulsive schoolgirl thought to have ADHD simply needed glasses to see the blackboard.
He also found that a 36-year old man thought to have ADHD was just drinking too much coffee and wasn’t getting enough sleep.
In another case, a woman who was convinced she had the disease, realised that the stress of life was beginning to get to her and regular exercise is all that was needed.
A group of researchers in Australia also hold the same view as Dr Saul and think that the diagnosis for ADHD has become too broad.
However, Professor Eric Taylor of the Institute of Psychiarty at King's College, London has a different view. Prof Taylor believes that "too few children" in the UK get help because the NHS gives priority to psychological treatments over medication in most cases.
