An ADHD charity has lodged a complaint with media regulator Ofcom regarding a Channel 4 documentary that questioned the existence of ADHD as a disorder. The program, titled "The Great ADHD Myth?" and hosted by NHS psychiatrist Dr. Max Pemberton, concluded that ADHD is "a social construct, not a disorder of the brain."
ADHD UK filed the complaint, asserting that "ADHD is not a myth. It is not a social construct." The Royal College of Psychiatrists also voiced concerns, warning against "invalidating the condition."
Channel 4 defended the broadcast, stating that there is "considerable public debate on various aspects of ADHD" and that it is "legitimate for that debate to be explored and for conventional understandings to be challenged." The documentary featured experts skeptical of ADHD and its treatments. It also followed a 10-year-old boy who temporarily stopped his medication to observe the effects on his behavior. The program's end credits indicated that the boy resumed his medication two months after filming, leading to improved school performance, though he expressed a desire to stop medication again in the future.
ADHD UK highlighted that the program's conclusion was contradicted by its own findings, stating, "The programme's own end credits told you what its 60 minutes wouldn't: the boy at its centre went back on his medication, and his schoolwork improved. Their experiment disproved their conclusion. They aired their version anyway. We have already complained to Ofcom."
Prof. Subodh Dave, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, acknowledged that while individuals may hold personal opinions on ADHD diagnosis and treatment, "invalidating the condition does a disservice to people with ADHD and professionals involved in their care." He emphasized that efforts should focus on improving access to high-quality assessments and care by addressing long waiting lists, rather than questioning the legitimacy of ADHD as a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Another charity, ADHD Embrace, had previously raised concerns with Channel 4, warning that the program risked "perpetuating misinformation about ADHD as a condition and discrimination against those families whose lives have been severely impacted by the condition."
In its statement, Channel 4 clarified that the documentary does not deny the lived experiences of individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Instead, it presented the views of numerous senior medical experts who question conventional understandings of ADHD and its classification as a neurodevelopmental condition. The program also explored whether modern living and societal factors have contributed to the rise in diagnoses and the use of medication, particularly among boys, and whether alternative approaches might be more suitable for some children.
The channel added that the film sought to examine whether society is equipped to accommodate ADHD behaviors and the ethics of medicating children, especially given the unknown long-term effects of such treatments.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) describes ADHD as a behavioral syndrome characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. The NHS estimates that approximately 2.5 million people in England have ADHD, including those without a formal diagnosis.