ADHD private assessments - BBC documentary

[Plantymcplantface]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65534449

just wanted to share this as I think it is well
worth read xx

I read this and was disappointed, as I think it will feed into the belief that ADHD is being over diagnosed, and people are snowflakes wanting to pathologise normal human behaviour. (As an aside, I think ADHD behaviour is normal but it is difficult to live under capitalism with ADHD as society requires consistent performance and results, and instead of living communally where group members can perform tasks relating to strengths, individuals have to do everything for themselves).

I am sure there is truth in private clinics not doing proper assessments to get more people through their doors and make extra money, but if an adult has reached the point of seeking a diagnosis, their life has probably been negatively impacted and it is likely they do have ADHD.

In terms of access to prescribed medication, if someone wants to game the system to get what would work as a party drug for people that don't have ADHD, there will always be a minority gaming the system and knowing what to say.

I've made a complaint to the BBC about this. It seems that the journalist wasn't entirely honest about the process and what was offered. It's an appalling piece of journalism that will do nothing to help the stigma around adhd. Adhd is massively underdiagnosed in the UK especially in women and girls. Undiagnosed adhd can reduce life expectancy by 11 years, lead to physical and mental health problems like obesity, substance use, depression. People with adhd are at a higher risk of suicide.

My diagnosis has saved my life as have my meds - for 10 years I was on various different antidepressants and antipsychotics for a severe mental illness I never had. No therapy worked. It was bloody hard to get an adhd assessment through right to choose. But 2 months on meds and I've felt the best I've ever felt. Now I'm terrified I'm lying, my diagnosis isn't valid, that I'll get reasonable adjustments etc removed.

While it's important to highlight issues with private companies assessing ADHD, its also important to note that its hard and/or impossible to get an NHS assessment. So people who access private companies will do it because they're desperate and because they have the money.

This statement from ADHD Direct shows the journalist was not honest about the assessment process or treatment offered. He made it out like its easy to get access to medication. It's not, and in my experience (I was not diagnosed by this company) I was given a more thorough explanation about the medication and possible side effects than any NHS service gave me for antidepressants and antipsychotics (note these meds can also cause horrendous side effects). I've also been monitored better - weekly BP, weight and daily HR. I also had to wait 6 months after diagnosis to start medication.

I gained over 2 stone on antipsychotics and was then told I was obese. But no doctor monitored my weight or put the 2 and 2 together.

I don't think anyone should be shamed for taking meds that help them but that's how this article made me feel.

https://adhddirect.co.uk/adhd-direct-our-response-to-panorama/

I may also complain.

Copying my post from another thread -

Just to add for what it’s worth I was diagnosed by the owner of one of the clinics mentioned in the show.

His knowledge of ADHD was outstanding. The assessment was really in depth. Some of the questions he asked me just made it so clear he knew what he was talking about. He was angry at the way the NHS are dealing with people who suspect they have ADHD and I genuinely believe he wants people with ADHD to have better lives. There’s no denying it’s a business and there’s money to be made but they push for shared care so actually it’s not a life long thing.

I also complained.

Seems he also gained access to women only online ADHD chat spaces and then contacted people, totally violating their privacy.

I read about that on twitter too. Absolutely disgusting to do that to a group of vulnerable women. It's beyond unethical.

The nhs psychiatrist moved into his role in Nov last year after working as a foresnsic psychiatrist specialising in asd in a secure facility for males with asd.

So his breadth of experience assessing and diagnosing adhd is 7 months. Granted he was working under stringent NHS guidelines but at least one of the “quacks” had over a decade of experience with adhd.

I actually paid a deposit to ADHD 360 but when I came to book an appointment it became apparent that the clinicians were not all psychiatrists, which I didn't realise before paying the money. I did get it refunded though after emailing them. One of the assessors is a pharmacist! I don't know if I just missed the info on the website or if it actually wasn't there though.

I then did thoroughly research and chose a psychiatrist who works in the NHS as well. I feel a bit like no one will believe me now after that programme and I was so careful when choosing who did my assessment