With a new Government-commissioned review into ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), autism and mental health conditions warning of an “increased risk of misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis”, Barny Guthrie, chief executive officer of Clinical Partners advocates for a system where help is based on need rather than diagnosis.
He said: “We fully support the ambition that we need to move towards a system where help is based on need, not diagnosis. We know from the patients we see that a third of adults coming for an ADHD or autism assessment would meet the threshold for clinical depression, and over 80 per cent are experiencing clinical levels of anxiety – before any assessment or potential diagnosis.
“Neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health shouldn’t be considered as separate; symptoms overlap, and we need to consider someone’s mental health severity – whether they are diagnosed or not.
“As a UK leader in this space, we recognise the challenges that will come in implementing this. We are currently partnering with ICBs to develop needs-based approaches which aim to deliver real benefits for patients.”
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