The Government has launched an independent review into rising diagnoses of ADHD and autism, as well as other mental health conditions in England.
It will look at the reasons behind the growing prevalence and the knock-on demand for services in both adults and children.
Pulse exclusively revealed in March that the review would take place, when the Government said it would crack down on ‘unregulated private sector’ therapists and counsellors.
Speaking at Pulse Live, primary care minister Stephen Kinnock said he was ‘very worried that there are diagnoses being given out by the private independent sector which are not rooted in clinical expertise’.
He added that ‘demand just continues to go through the roof’ partly as a result of private sector counsellors and therapists.
The review – which will take three to six months and will report in the summer next year – will look at evidence around ‘medicalisation’ of mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, including potential harms ‘and the difference between non-clinical need and disorder’, the Government said today.
The now published scope of the review set out that it will look at how increased diagnoses of ADHD, autism, and mental health conditions have impacted NHS services. It will also look at inequalities in accessing support for children, young people and adults.
The independent committee, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, head of psychology and language sciences at University College London, will investigate how diagnostic pathways and criteria have changed in the past decade.
It will consider the value of diagnosis to individuals as well as barriers in getting one, the Government said. Long-term outcomes of pharmacological treatment for young people and adults will also be examined.
Health secretary Wes Streeting had previously raised concerns that mental health conditions were being over-diagnosed.
While announcing the review, he said: ‘We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding. That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.’
Professor Fonagy said: ‘This review will only be worthwhile if it is built on solid ground. We will examine the evidence with care — from research, from people with lived experience, and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services — to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.
‘My aim is to test assumptions rigorously and listen closely to those most affected, so that our recommendations are both honest and genuinely useful.’
It comes after an independent taskforce reported last month that the Government should incentivise GP practices to take on some aspects of care for ADHD.
NHS data has shown an ongoing steady rise in medicines prescribed for ADHD that included a 28% increase in 2023/24.
Between April and June this year there were 23 million antidepressant items prescribed to an estimated 7 million identified patients.
Mental Health charity Mind noted that Lord Darzi’s investigation into the NHS showed that more people are experiencing common mental health problems than a decade ago.
Dr Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, said: ‘This is a huge opportunity to really understand what is driving increasing levels of mental illness, especially among our young people.
‘More people need help than services can see, people’s mental health deteriorates while they wait, and when people do get access to support it is not always appropriate to their needs. We also need to be tackling the social and economic factors that are helping to drive increased demand.’
Comments (0)