Over-diagnosis Risk Emerges for Autism and ADHD

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A government-commissioned review into mental health diagnoses in young people has identified a critical tension in how conditions are assessed and treated in the UK. The report emphasizes a crucial distinction: while diagnoses of autism and ADHD have risen significantly over the past 25 years, evidence suggests some age groups now exceed expected prevalence rates. Children aged six to 17, for instance, show autism diagnoses exceeding 4%, well above the estimated 1-2% true level in the population. However, the review team qualified this finding by noting data weaknesses and the fact that certain age groups remain under-diagnosed, meaning the picture remains incomplete.