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Telly addicts

Panorama Private ADHD clinics exposed

392 replies

Youdoyoubabe · 15/05/2023 20:46

Nothing surprising there really but good to highlight it on national television. Everyone has some characteristics of ADHD.

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Sakigake · 16/05/2023 16:28

Spidey66 · 16/05/2023 16:20

Just as a warning to how powerful these drugs are, and how they can do wrong in people who don't have ADHD. Please note this is anecdotal evidence but I thought I'd share it to demonstrate why the ADHD diagnosis must be made after a comprehensive assessment and not just a tick box questionnaire.

I once assessed a young lady in her early 20s. She came from the Phillipines and was a post graduate student. Her parents had paid £££ for her to get her degree and post grad in the UK, believing it to be a superior education to what she would get in the Philippines. So that she wouldn't let them down, she would spend every hour studying and bought Ritalin online in order to stay awake and help her concentrate. She ended up having to leave college as she ended up in an acute psychotic episode and honestly it was so, so sad to see as again, she was really suffering.

My point in this is certainly the young student did not have ADHD and as a result the Ritalin did not have the effect its supposed to and ended up causing a mental health crisis which previously did not exist. And that's why a clear diagnosis needs to happen before these drugs are prescribed,. They're very powerful.

What makes you think the psychotic episode was caused by Ritalin?

Spidey66 · 16/05/2023 16:30

Because it started when she started taking Ritalin, and stopped once she was in hospital and wasn't getting it, and is a known sideeffect.

Adhdsucks · 16/05/2023 16:36

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.

Itwasnaeme · 16/05/2023 16:40

ArcticSkewer · 16/05/2023 16:25

People on here won't give a shit about the collateral damage as long as they get their own diagnosis for them or their child.

Someone else ends up seriously ill? Fuck them.

This is a scenario with someone buying drugs online. The comparator is someone buying speed in their local carpark, not a Parent being prescribed Ritalin for their child with regular medication reviews carried out.

RedToothBrush · 16/05/2023 16:40

ArcticSkewer · 16/05/2023 16:25

People on here won't give a shit about the collateral damage as long as they get their own diagnosis for them or their child.

Someone else ends up seriously ill? Fuck them.

Actually I think it's awful. But part of the point I've made is the assumption that people going for diagnosis haven't been on a succession of other powerful drugs for misdiagnosed other conditions with serious side effects and no benefits for years.

Then ADHD comes on their radar and fits where all the other diagnosis they've had just don't.

But they can't get that diagnosis.

So they are stuck on all these other medications - which perhaps they don't need - because they can't get the right diagnosis. Or because people are saying 'it can't possibly be adhd because you don't fit the stereotype / my ignorance about adhd'.

What matters is people get the right drugs and/or the right support. (noting that a diagnosis of ADHD does not necessarily instantly mean medicalisation either)

Few women who are going for assessments in their 30s and 40s will have go to that age without a pile of other mental health related issues and are highly likely to have rattled like a pill box for a number of years. Oh and they don't need medicalisation because they are 'coping' with life. Need to stress this bit - the bit where they are told they are coping despite having lengthy and extensive histories of mental health concerns. That's the classic line for me.

And these are the very people who are stuffed by the stigma and the idea that ADHD is just made up shit and it's caused by too much time on your smart phone or poor sleep routines. Despite it being a life long issue which predates the availability of bloody smart phones.

It's the assumption that these people influenced by tiktok are coming in off the street as sparkling humans who have never previously had issues is off the scale bonkers tbh.

Sakigake · 16/05/2023 16:46

Spidey66 · 16/05/2023 16:30

Because it started when she started taking Ritalin, and stopped once she was in hospital and wasn't getting it, and is a known sideeffect.

It’s debatable. It could equally have been induced by predisposition to psychosis, combined with sleep deprivation and academic stress.

[…] contrary to clinical concerns, our study did not detect an increased risk of psychotic events in adolescents and young adults after starting methylphenidate treatment. Notably, this finding also applies to individuals with a history of psychosis
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(19)30189-0/fulltext

The psychosis associated with the use of a psychostimulant such as methylphenidate is a fact mainly known from the publication of anecdotal cases, meaning, it would be an idiosyncratic, unusual and unpredictable phenomenon. Since there is no strong evidence that methylphenidate- induced psychosis is associated with future schizophrenic or bipolar disorders, it should remain as the first-line psychotropic drug for the treatment of children over six years old with attention deficit disorder, keeping a close supervision.
https://www.medwave.cl/medios/medwave/Junio2017/PDF/medwave-2017-05-e6980.pdf

This study does not support the hypothesis that MPH increases risk of incident psychotic events. It does, however, indicate an increased risk of such events before the first prescription of MPH, which may be due to the association between psychotic events and the behavioural and attention symptoms that led to psychiatric consultations and initiation of treatment with MPH.
https://www.nature.com/articles/tp2016216

https://www.medwave.cl/medios/medwave/Junio2017/PDF/medwave-2017-05-e6980.pdf

SusanMaria · 16/05/2023 17:28

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 16/05/2023 03:54

A clinical psychologist is not a doctor.

A psychiatrist is a doctor. A psychologist is not.

All qualified doctors can prescribe (unless struck off or retired etc).

Many practitioners who are not doctors can make diagnoses in their field of expertise.

You're wrong. Clinical psychologist is a doctor. Their title is doctor, not Mr or Mrs, and they can diagnose MH problems

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 16/05/2023 17:38

SusanMaria · 16/05/2023 17:28

You're wrong. Clinical psychologist is a doctor. Their title is doctor, not Mr or Mrs, and they can diagnose MH problems

There are two reasons for people to have the title 'Dr':

  1. they are medical doctors; or
  2. they have a PhD or DPhil (doctorate), which is a post-graduate qualification that you can have in any subject, from archeology to zoology. It has nothing to do with being a medical doctor.

Clinical psychologists have a doctorate. They are not medical doctors.

You don't have to take my word for it - link

Clinical psychologist | Explore careers | National Careers Service

Clinical psychologists help people manage mental health issues, phobias and addiction.

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/clinical-psychologist

Whatevercanbedone · 16/05/2023 18:09

@NotAnotherBathBomb

A good and prompt response from ADHD FOUNDATION

Marvel22 · 16/05/2023 18:22

The sad thing is, this is quite real for people who are neurodivergent or who have children who are. The system is failing them in a lot of ways.
Especially schools and their approaches.
I recently discovered a school in my area Stoke Newington in London is sending threatening letters to parents whose children have SEND needs and specifically to those writing current GCSE as if they’re not under enough stress. These children are even said to be banned from attending the prom.

I was equally shocked to hear most of these students in year 11 are being suspended or excluded from school.

I mean. I wouldn’t have believed any of it, if I hadn’t been forwarded a copy of the letter by my friend!

RedToothBrush · 16/05/2023 18:24

NotAnotherBathBomb · 16/05/2023 17:54

For anyone interested, ADHD Foundation has released this statement in response to the programme.

So basically everything I've said...

Rainbowsandbutterflies1990 · 16/05/2023 18:48

NotAnotherBathBomb · 16/05/2023 17:54

For anyone interested, ADHD Foundation has released this statement in response to the programme.

Very good response and I agree with it all. Deeply disappointing with bbc

Rainbowsandbutterflies1990 · 16/05/2023 18:50

I watched Sam Thomson adhd programme few days ago and felt that was good , his mum seems to have very stereotypical views and they weren't really addressed which I felt was a shame but overall good programme, they explained waiting lists and private expenses.

Fedupatstokey · 16/05/2023 19:04

Your friend is right!! That’s only the latest icing on a overflowing cake of tripe I’ve gone through as a parent with a child in that school!
Absolutely appalling, the school purports itself as a beacon of liberal inclusive holistic ideal but it’s bullpoop, especially if you’re male, black or have SEND needs! Heaven forbids your child is unlucky enough to tick all those boxes. You’re completely and utterly fricked!!
My autistic child has gone from a high achieving happy child, who loved school and hated holidays to having nightmares, depression, chronic anxieties and topping it up, is EBSR.
From leaving primary school with all level 5s, with predicted grades 8 and 9 to now only getting 2s and 3s. If he leaves there with any GCSE it’ll be because the poor new inclusion lead is phenomenal! I won’t be surprised if they get fed up and leave!

The culture of that place is treating children as though they’ve committed some sort of crime, they don’t trust them, they don’t care, they begrudge the merest of reasonable adjustment especially if your child has an invisible disability!
3 inclusion lead changes since year7, each trying but failing to effect any change!!

I’ve seen parents crying, at their wits end, I’ve cried with impotent anger at the appalling way our children have been failed at this school.
ill be glad to never go anywhere near that school once my child escapes!!

SusanMaria · 16/05/2023 19:58

The point it Lucy you think they can't diagnose and you're wrong, they can. I'm aware of how people become doctors.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 16/05/2023 20:06

SusanMaria · 16/05/2023 19:58

The point it Lucy you think they can't diagnose and you're wrong, they can. I'm aware of how people become doctors.

Maybe re-read the last line?

Panorama Private ADHD clinics exposed
FrocksAndFrills · 16/05/2023 20:55

This is such an important discussion. I work in child mental health and am only too aware of the waiting lists for ADHD assessments. However, there are also occasions where young people get assessed in the NHS and are not given a diagnosis. They then go to a private clinic and get diagnosed and prescribed medication. This is appalling.
of course not all private clinics are this cavalier but we also need to be alert to this issue, especially as they are children. There can be other reasons for ADHD like symptoms such as anxiety and complex trauma.

Mackerson · 16/05/2023 21:23

RedToothBrush · 16/05/2023 08:03

This is exactly part of the damage the programme will do.

'Poor social habits'

I put most of my problems down to the Internet and SM. Too much phone use. I've stopped being able to concentrate for longer than 3 minutes unless I'm really interested

The stigma and problems that people who have an accurate diagnosis have to put up with is dreadful.

My brother had symptoms of ADHD as a child but my parents never followed through with it because it was 1988 and it wasn't understood well. DH had clear issues as a child too. No one who knows him ever questions suggestions he has ADHD. And my own problems were definitely ingrained as a child. Then got worse resulting in breakdown before I ever had a smart phone.

I don't think a lot of people have a clue about ADHD tbh. It's depressing.

I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you're saying. That I'm stigmatising people in some way?

RedToothBrush · 16/05/2023 21:28

Mackerson · 16/05/2023 21:23

I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you're saying. That I'm stigmatising people in some way?

I think you are spouting a great load of damaging crap, yes.

KatnissE · 16/05/2023 21:34

Youdoyoubabe · 15/05/2023 20:58

Oh they do though because the medication is really great at assisting with concentration in anyone.

That's not true. It actually usually doesn't help people without ADHD, and can make them hyperfocus on the wrong thing.

Eightytwenty · 16/05/2023 21:55

Adhdsucks · 16/05/2023 16:36

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.

We used one of the providers and had exactly the same positive experience. We also saw one of the former employees who was featured crying over her remorse. I looked back at our correspondence and it was all thorough and professional. I wonder what made her ‘whistleblow’. The provider has a statement that states that she was a disgruntled employee.

purpleme12 · 17/05/2023 02:38

The woman psychologist on zoom came across as really unprofessional

PinkRobotDuck · 17/05/2023 04:54

purpleme12 · 17/05/2023 02:38

The woman psychologist on zoom came across as really unprofessional

She also seemed to have few questions plus a disinterested attitude and worse the psychiatrist just went along with her crap opinions.

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