The great ADHD Myth? - Channel 4 On Tuesday 18th August At 20:00

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Comments

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists
    edited August 18

    This will be an interesting watch, thank you for sharing @ChrisR777. Will you be watching it?

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    I will miss the airing when out with Gus, but will watch it, certainly. I didn't know the majority of diagnoses were carried out by the private sector.

  • Emilee
    Emilee Empowering

    I think that's only true because it has been almost impossible to get them via the public sector for many, many years.

    A friend of mine waited for her daughter from age 12 until 18, when she aged out of the system and has had to start the process from scratch with adult services. Her daughter is now 20 and they estimate another 2 years wait. Her area do not support the private diagnosis route.

    I will be interested to watch the show.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    I will be interested to learn something on the subject, I hope the documentary is informative.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing
    edited August 19

    I came away with the impression that those kids were essentially being chemically lobotomised, in order for them to conform to inflexible expectations placed on them by society. That made me feel uneasy.

    I remember the controversy a number of years ago, when it was claimed difficult children were being prescribed Ritalin as a matter of course, if they were deemed to be disruptive in class. We can surely do better than that?

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    Did nobody else watch this programme? I believe it was considered controversial by some.

  • Carl_Scope
    Carl_Scope Online Community Team

    I haven't watched it yet @ChrisR777 but plan to catch up this evening.

    Keeping in mind I haven't watched it:

    I thought that was more based in the US than over here, although I may be wrong!

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    The psychiatrist is a bit right wing i believe, he may even write the old column for the Daily Mail.

    I suppose they can always find clinicians to support the narrative.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    The only spoiler I will reveal is about when the psychiatrist takes the drugs that adhd kids are allegedly prescribed, he claims to be under their influence within hours; i found that a bit unlikely.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Championing
    edited August 20

    There is supposedly a lot of upset about this programme but not much interest here…yet.

    I've no idea what Max Pemberton says in his columns but I liked this documentary.

    What I didn't understand is what happened after his first dose; did he continue the medication and how did it change him? Did I miss something or was it missing from the programme?

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    That was the only bit of the programme I found suspect. He took a one tablet, then claimed it had altered his persona? I can't easily believe that.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Championing

    He thought he could feel something 30 mins or an hour later. Did he mention anything after that?

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    I remember him saying that when he went over to that shop, he didn't really feel like small talk with the cashier. He then said to the camera person back at his flat, that he even felt their very presence was annoying. To me that was contrived.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Championing

    It seemed rather quick, yes. Even more important then to follow this up but he didn't! Thanks for confirming that and for letting us know Chris or I probably would have missed it.

    I definitely don't want any medication but may go ahead with my assessment next month. Half the potential side-effects I experience anyway so what would be the point? I don't have meltdowns if I avoid people and I'm old enough not to mind being alone.

    This programme helped me make that decision. The lad featured in this programme was far happier off his meds so it was a worthwhile experiment for him and his family

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    But at the end credits, it was revealed the lad was back on the medication, due to poor performance and behaviour at school.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Championing

    Only until the end of the school year when he would stop again!

    What we don't know is how he got on after that.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Championing

    It doesn't help that only 2 hours a week are allocated for PE in state schools here in England - I don't know about you lot in the extreme far north - when growing children need at least 2 hours' exercise a day.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Championing

    I have no idea, but the only kids who took PE as a subject, they were the ones who performed poorly academically.

    The school day is quite short. It's up to parents and community groups etc to help children discover sports and outdoor pursuits.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Championing
    edited August 21

    Really? School is where I would expect children to be introduced to field sports, games and gym equipment they'd not usually have at home.

    We aren't meant to lead sedentary lives at any age.

    Ps I performed poorly at an academic school and disrupted lessons 😞