ADHD is a diagnostic category of psychiatry. According to our estimate around 156,000 young people are currently being drugged “for ADHD” in the UK. There is no biological condition ADHD. And no medical test. Thus there is no “treatment” in any medical sense. The drugs simply curtail the disruptive behaviours which constitute the ADHD “diagnosis” (in some users). The main drug used is methylphenidate which the US DEA describes as being “pharmacologically similar to amphetamines and cocaine”. The new drug atomoxetine is linked to suicidal thinking and behaviour.
In this paper we look at how the narratives about ADHD are constructed. We critically review a number of key papers and we review the NICE Guideline on the diagnosis and “management” of “ADHD” in children, young people and adults.
Please do not reproduce this paper or any part of it except for legitimate citation without my permission.
The paper can be downloaded in full. This is the first link in the following table. However; I have broken the paper into its constituent parts which can all be downloaded separately. This may be useful for people who have a particular interest in just one section.
ADHD Blog (Continuously updated. Please ask if you would like us to consider posting a link to an article you have written).
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