Latest news with #PsychologyandNeuroscience
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Kids may get wrong ADHD diagnosis based on 'arbitrary thresholds', experts warn
Many people are still living with ADHD without a diagnosis or support but an NHS-funded review suggests the real numbers with the condition is not on the rise Diagnosing children with ADHD is based on 'arbitrary thresholds' which could cause the NHS to wrongly prescribe children drugs for the condition, experts warn. Around three million Brits are thought to have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and despite heightened awareness of the condition many remain undiagnosed. But an NHS-funded review has found 'evolving diagnosis criteria' may be in part why more people are being diagnosed but could find no evidence of a real increase in people with the condition since 2020. Leading experts insist the NHS is still playing 'catch up' after generations when there was no recognition of ADHD and many girls in particular remain undiagnosed. Study author Dr Alex Martin, of King's College London, said: 'While assessments and help-seeking may be increasing, our study has shown significant gaps in the tracking of ADHD prevalence, resulting in a frustratingly unclear picture. The best data we have suggests that there has been no meaningful increase in ADHD prevalence.' ADHD is characterised by difficulty focusing on things, hyperactivity and impulsivity. A previous study on seven million Brits showed there had been a 20-fold increase in people receiving a diagnosis for ADHD between 2000 and 2018. Among men aged 18 to 29 there was a 50-fold increase. But experts warn clinicians may feel pressured to make 'artificial decisions' as changing cultural norms drive increased demand for children struggling at school to be diagnosed and get support. They warn about the risk of children wrongly being given ADHD drugs and say clinicians should be able to 'undiagnose' them if they improve. Prof Phillip Shaw, director at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, said: 'Giving medications for ADHD to people who don't have it - that's never a good idea. They are generally very safe medications… but they do have side effects and they have to be monitored.' Jamie Oliver bravely reveals kids' health diagnosis as he opens up about 'bonkers' family The NHS is pulling together better national data on ADHD which can significantly interfere with daily life and development. The neurodevelopmental condition can affect things like schoolwork, daily tasks and social interactions. The new paper by King's College London is the first systematic review of ADHD prevalence to be published since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and looked at 40 studies. Prof Edmund Sonuga-Barke, of King's College London, said: 'The history of ADHD in the UK is one of chronic under recognition so the increase in diagnoses we've seen over the last ten or so years is really a resetting or a catch up. And there's actually plenty more to do in this regard.' However Prof Sonuga-Barke said diagnosis uses 'essentially arbitrary ADHD thresholds' that are 'not based on any natural, biological or clinical boundary'. He added: 'This forces us to consider how those thresholds are socially determined and culturally dependent. The fluidity around boundaries between ADHD and not ADHD inevitably leave clinicians having to make rather artificial decisions about very fine margins.' Prof Phillip Shaw, who is one of the country's leading experts but was not involved in the research, said: 'For kids who are in the grey area there are three options here; to make a diagnosis or not, or often we just wait and watch. And for those kids in particular we always start educating the family and the child about what ADHD is and seeing if there are strategies they can use at home to help them. We also place an enormous emphasis on accommodations at school for the hyperactive kid [such as]... let them do their work standing up, maybe have preferential seating for inattentive kids, do things to break it [the work] up. You'll find all really good teachers already do this.' People with the neuro-developmental disorder may have trouble concentrating or sitting still, while other symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetfulness, finding it hard to follow instructions or organise time, and making impulsive decisions. Best estimates from a 2018 study suggests true prevalence of ADHD among children could be 5%. Back then 2.5% of boys and 0.7% of girls in the UK had been diagnosed but this is likely to have increased since then. An estimated 2-3% of adults had ADHD but only around 1% had a diagnosis. Prof Phillip Shaw warned children with other mental health problems such as anxiety could be mistakenly labelled as having ADHD. He added: 'My hunch is that there's such a huge awareness of ADHD that it's often used as a language of distress. It's sometimes used to express that children and young people are struggling, particularly at school, and need help. And of course, when a child is having problems that are impacting their life in a sustained way, they deserve a full mental health assessment, even if the final diagnosis doesn't end up being ADHD.' Researchers admitted all but four of the studies included in the review were 'poor quality' and more research is needed. However surveys included did suggest there has been 'no significant rise' in the number of people who actually have the condition since 2020. Social media platforms like TikTok have played a role in raising awareness. Earlier this month NHS England estimated for the first time that 2,498,000 people in England may have ADHD, which includes those without a diagnosis. An estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. More than half a million people (549,000) were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025, up from 416,000 a year earlier. Catherine Hinwood, NHS England's ADHD Programme Director said: 'This research backs the long-term vision set out in our recently published ADHD data improvement plan to have accurate national data on all aspects of ADHD – and we published our first ever national ADHD data set including estimated prevalence figures last week. Patients are waiting too long for an ADHD assessment and diagnosis and that's why the NHS has also launched an independent taskforce to investigate the challenges facing services and help them manage the rising numbers of referrals, with support from across society.' This study was funded by NHS England and was conducted by the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emergency Preparedness and Response. It is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Medscape
2 days ago
- General
- Medscape
Biliary Atresia Linked to Autism and Neurodevelopment Delays
Children with biliary atresia (BA) exhibited neurodevelopmental deficits and increased autism traits, with earlier surgery linked to better general neurodevelopment. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a single-centre observational study to examine general and autism-related neurodevelopment in infants with BA. Surveys on neurodevelopment were completed by 107 parents of children with BA (mean age, 7.8 years; range, 7 months to 12 years; 50% post-transplant). A total of 50 infants with BA younger than 5 years (median age, 2.3 years) were compared with the reference group of 93 age- and sex-matched infants, comprising 50 with a low likelihood (no neurodevelopmental risk) and 43 with a high likelihood (having a first-degree relative with autism and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) for neurodevelopmental conditions. General neurodevelopment was assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS); autism-related behaviours were evaluated using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). Primary objectives were to compare general neurodevelopmental outcomes between infants with BA and two reference cohorts and to examine the relationship of neurodevelopment to key disease-related factors. TAKEAWAY: Neurodevelopmental concerns were reported by 37% of parents in their child with BA, with 47% requiring at least one support service (most commonly speech and language therapy [20%]), and independently noted by professionals in 28% of cases. Boys with BA were disproportionately affected, with 69% of them scored above the cutoff for autism (t(18) = 3.44; P < .001). < .001). Children with BA showed significantly lower cognitive and adaptive functioning than both low- and high-likelihood reference groups (VABS: F = 18.26; MSEL: F = 9.981; P < .001 for both). < .001 for both). Earlier Kasai surgery ( P = .047) and jaundice clearance at 1 month post-surgery ( P = .012) were significantly associated with better general neurodevelopmental outcomes (F = 2.428; P = .042), but not with the presence of autism-related traits. IN PRACTICE: "High levels of neurodevelopmental difficulties in children with BA reveal a need for greater awareness and enhanced surveillance. That early identification and treatment of BA is linked to better general neurodevelopmental outcome and encourages proactive management," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by M. Earl, PhD, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England. It was published online on May 28, 2025, in The Journal of Pediatrics . LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by statistical power and generalisability for subgroup analyses because of the modest sample size. The cross-sectional design captured a snapshot of neurodevelopment but did not account for potential worsening over time. Pandemic-related constraints prevented ADOS-2 assessments in nine eligible infants, potentially underestimating the prevalence of autism traits. DISCLOSURES: This study received funding from MowatLabs, King's College Hospital, National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, and King's College London. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.
Times
04-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Majority in UK now ‘self-identify' as neurodivergent
A majority of Britons may now consider themselves neurodivergent, meaning they have a condition such as autism, dyslexia or dyspraxia, according to a leading psychologist. Francesca Happé, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, said reduced stigma around these conditions had led more people both to seek medical diagnoses and to self-diagnose. She said: 'There's a lot more tolerance, which is good — particularly among my children's generation, who are late teens and early adults, where people are very happy to say 'I'm dyslexic', 'I'm ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]'.' Happé said there was a risk, however, that behaviour that would have been thought of only as 'a bit of eccentricity' in the past has now
Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Majority of Britons now ‘self indentify' as neurodivergent
A majority of Britons may now consider themselves neurodivergent, meaning they have a condition such as autism, dyslexia or dyspraxia, according to a leading psychologist. Francesca Happé, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, said reduced stigma around these conditions had led more people both to seek medical diagnoses and to self-diagnose. She said: 'There's a lot more tolerance, which is good — particularly among my children's generation, who are late teens and early adults, where people are very happy to say 'I'm dyslexic', 'I'm ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]'.' Happé said there was a risk, however, that behaviour that would have been thought of only as 'a bit of eccentricity' in the past has now
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cambridge 'brain pacemaker' implant trial to combat addiction
People with severe alcohol and opioid addictions are being offered the chance to have electrodes implanted in their brains in an attempt to help them transform their lives. The technique – known as deep brain stimulation – is to be trialled at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and King's College Hospital, London. The team behind the Brain Pacemaker Addiction Control to End Relapse study (the Brain-PACER) is currently recruiting people. Prof Valerie Voon, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said: "We want to see if it can also transform the lives of people with intractable alcohol and opioid addiction." Once in place, the electrodes modulate brain activity and cravings to help improve brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure that delivers ongoing stimulation to the brain. According to the University of Cambridge, it acts as a "brain pacemaker" to normalise abnormal brain technique is well-tolerated, effective and already widely used for neurological disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder, the researchers there have been several proof-of-concept studies suggesting DBS is effective in addictions, according to those behind the research, Brain-PACER, is the first major, multicentre study to use DBS to treat craving and relapse in severe addiction. Prof Voon, added: "While many people who experience alcohol or drug addiction can, with the right support, control their impulses, for some people, their addiction is so severe that no treatments are effective. "Initial evidence suggests that deep brain stimulation may be able to help these individuals manage their conditions."DBS is a neurosurgical treatment that involves implanting a slender electrode in the brain and a pacemaker under general anaesthesia. These electrodes deliver electrical impulses to modulate neural activity, which can help alleviate symptoms of various neurological and psychiatric David Okai, visiting senior lecturer from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, added: "DBS is safe, reversible and adjustable, so it offers a flexible option for managing chronic conditions. "We hope it will offer a lifeline to help improve the quality of life for patients whose treatment until now has been unsuccessful."Details on the trial, including criteria for participation and how to sign up, can be found on the Brain-PACER research is supported by the Medical Research Council, UK Research and Innovation. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
