Everything you think you know about ADHD isn’t true — this is why

‘This is not a parlour debate,’ says ADHD UK of the new documentary (Picture: Getty Images) Over the last few years, ADHD has become a topic of fierce debate This evening, Channel 4 is airing a documentary called The Great ADHD Myth?, which seeks to ascertain whether ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder or a social construct. Essentially, is ADHD a real, diagnosable condition — or made up? I was diagnosed with it in 2021. For me, posing such a question undermines an entire group of people, and generates yet another frustrating — and pointless — discussion. But you don’t need to take my word for it. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Given that questions regarding ADHD will now be raised once more, it’s time to take a step back from the heat, and look at some of the commonly held beliefs about the condition, to separate fact, from fiction. ‘ADHD is scientifically controversial’ False. Ahead of the documentary airing, leading charity ADHD UK published an open letter calling on Channel 4 to reframe elements of it. ‘A question mark is not a get-out-of-harm-free card,’ the letter reads, arguing that asking ‘The Great ADHD Myth?’ creates both harm and stigma even before the point of broadcast. It adds: ‘ADHD is not scientifically controversial. ‘It is recognised by the World Health Organisation, the NHS, NICE, and every major medical body on Earth.’ The letter adds: ‘This is not a parlour debate. People die.’ ADHD is in the spotlight once again, as Channel 4 debuts a new documentary (Picture: Getty Images) This is partly down to higher rates of suicide among people with ADHD: one 2019 study found ADHDers are around five times more likely to take their own lives than the general population. Another 2025 study from the University of Cambridge finds people with ADHD also experience higher rates of other physical and mental health conditions, and are more prone to substance abuse. ‘ADHD is not a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder’ False. In the past, psychiatrists believed ADHD only impacted children, and anyone diagnosed with it would grow out of it. Now, we know this isn’t true. The NHS agrees ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as conditions which affect the ‘development and function of the brain.’ Autism is also a neurodevelopmental condition, as is Tourette’s. Dr Claudia Aymerich, consultant psychiatrist at Berkeley, tells Metro: ‘Evidence shows a genetic and neurobiological basis for ADHD, especially concerning brain mechanisms responsible for attention, executive function and impulse control.’ One 2017 study concluded that some children experiencing symptoms during childhood have ‘abnormalities’ in their brain structure. Up to 83% of children then went on to be diagnosed with ADHD. Plus, various studies on neuroimaging, which involves scanning the brain to determine both structure and function, have revealed structural differences in the ADHD brain in adulthood, too. These include a smaller prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for planning and decision-making. ‘ADHD is caused by environmental factors’ False. ADHD is not caused by environmental factors, but they can worsen symptoms. Hester Grainger, a neurodiversity consultant and ADHD coach, explains: ‘Things like ultra-processed food and too much screen time can affect how we feel and function. ‘Sometimes ADHD traits can feel harder to manage because of them, but they don’t cause ADHD. ‘I grew up in the 1970s without a smartphone, and I still have ADHD.’ ‘Everyone has ADHD now’ False. This is an argument we’ve seen time and time again, and it’s often a response to the surge in diagnoses over the past few years. In 2023, a study from UCL found that the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has increased over the last 20 years, but this doesn’t mean ‘everyone’ has it now. Between 2000 and 2018, there was a twenty-fold increase in ADHD diagnoses, rising to an almost fifty-fold increase in prescriptions issued to men aged 18-29. ADHD only impacts between 2% and 6% of the world’s population (Picture: Getty Images) There might’ve been an increase in people seeking help for ADHD in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that the condition is becoming more common. The diagnoses are becoming more common, not the condition. It still only impacts between 2% and 6% of the world’s population. ‘Anyone who really wants to obtain an ADHD diagnosis can’ As part of the Channel 4 documentary, Dr Max Pemberton pays £1,200 to see if he can obtain an ADHD diagnosis, despite not believing he has it. He’s eventually diagnosed with the condition, but to do so, he almost mimics the types of replies a neurodivergent person might give. What his approach actually shows is that anyone who wants to obtain a diagnosis can, so long as they give a carefully curated set of answers, which, as an NHS psychiatrist, you’d expect Dr Pemberton to be able to do. However, when an individual assess someone for ADHD, they aren’t just listening to what you’re saying. It’s also worth noting that when someone is assessed for ADHD, they are also looking at patterns of speech, as well as body language and family history. As psychologist and clinical director Dr Andrea Pickering previously told Metro, various symptoms of ADHD, such as being distractible or fidgety, might seem relatable to the general non-neurodivergent public. ‘The key difference is that for someone with ADHD, these symptoms are persistent, pervasive and significantly impact their ability to function in daily life, across multiple settings such as work, school and relationships,’ Dr Andrea, from Clinical Partners, explains. ‘Only hyperactive boys have ADHD’ False. The classic image of ADHD is that of a restless schoolboy, and this trope is only furthered by the Channel 4 documentary, which follows a 10-year-old boy who is very outwardly hyperactive. But it’s inaccurate to suggest only men and boys live with it. Medical misogyny means the condition is vastly underresearched in women and girls, who tend to be more internally hyperactive. Hester says: ‘People, including women, can be diagnosed with combined ADHD, which includes hyperactivity but they can be internally hyperactive. So you can’t see it externally, but inside their brain it’s non-stop.’ No, it’s not just hyperactive boys who have ADHD (Picture: Getty Images/Westend61) At school, they might not disrupt a lesson, but with such racing thoughts, they’re probably not able to pay attention. Because of this, women are still largely going undetected: the ADHD Foundation estimates that between 50 and 70% of the 1,000,000 women in the UK living with ADHD are undiagnosed. ‘ADHD medication is like slow-release cocaine’ False. There are anecdotal reports of ADHD medications like Adderall (an amphetamine prescribed in the US) sometimes used as party drugs, almost akin to class As. In the documentary, one expert likens ADHD medications to ‘cocaine.’ While both drugs impact dopamine production, this doesn’t make them the same thing. Hester says: ‘ADHD medication is prescribed in controlled doses, taken in a specific way and monitored by a clinician. Calling it “slow-release cocaine” might sound dramatic, but it isn’t an accurate way to describe it.’ Meanwhile, Dr Samantha Hiew, founder of ADHD Girls, laughs at the comparison. ‘No, absolutely not,’ she says. ‘The right medication can really prop someone’s life up,’ Dr Samantha adds. ‘Everything comes with pros and cons, and it’s managing and balancing the cost and benefit of taking medication. It needs to be tailored.’ Dr Manish Rao, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, reminds us these medications are rigorously tested to ensure they’re safe. He says: ‘Routine monitoring for minor physical effects are standard practice (like blood pressure or growth). ‘However, research shows the risks of untreated ADHD – including higher rates of depression, substance misuse, and accidental injury – far outweigh the monitored risks of medication.’ ‘ADHD is a new condition and no one used to have it’ False. As there’s been an uptick in diagnoses over the past few years, so too have the suggestions that ADHD is a modern phenomenon. But in reality, it given proper terminology in 1968 (it was called hyperkinetic reaction of childhood). The very first descriptors were seen as early as the 1700s, when a German physician published a book describing ADHD-like behaviours, using words like inattentive. Now, our ancestors spent much more time in nature, while these days, many of us need to work a 9-5, and spend much of our day on screens. Modern life has perhaps made living with ADHD more apparent, but unfortunately, capitalism means there isn’t much of an alternative. For many of us, taking ADHD medication is a means of survival; the way we conduct our jobs efficiently. We need it to pay our bills, to get through the day. Perhaps if we had a simpler way of living, it’d be different. Hester reminds us: ‘People had ADHD long before we had the language, awareness, or diagnostic criteria we have today. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you ‘They didn’t suddenly have ADHD, we just got better at recognising it.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: One dead and hundreds ill after UK salmonella outbreak from imported eggs Arrow MORE: Why Hayden Panettiere’s shocking postnatal depression story is going viral after her death Arrow MORE: Where is the best place to cry in London? The Slice Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.