(UK) Prof. Uta Frith: 787% increase in autism due to marketing by private clinics
The explosion in ADHD and autism diagnoses is being fuelled by the 'marketing strategies' of private clinics that convince Britons that they have a disorder for profit, leading experts have warned.
Top medics in the field have described the array of treatment providers as the 'wild west', accusing them of 'exploiting' vulnerable adults who are seeking 'self-understanding' and 'identity'.
As a result many diagnoses – often delivered by 'less qualified' staff – may be incorrect, they suggest.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, autism pioneer Professor Dame Uta Frith and clinical psychologist Dr Naomi Fisher called for strict regulation of private providers.
The experts also argued for clearer criteria for diagnosis, describing the current requirements as 'elastic'.
'What we mean by autism and ADHD has changed both formally and informally,' they wrote.
'This makes them ripe for exploitation by providers who see ADHD and autism assessments as a business opportunity.
'Convincing more people that they could be autistic or have ADHD is a marketing strategy to increase their customer base. Giving more people the diagnosis makes business sense because a dissatisfied customer who does not receive the diagnosis they hoped for may leave poor reviews or complain.'
The assertions come weeks after a major report concluded that Britain risked harming a generation of children by overdiagnosing the conditions – potentially pushing them towards unemployment and a life on benefits.
Diagnoses of ADHD are at record highs in England – rising 20-fold since the turn of the century – while autism cases increased by 787 per cent in the UK between 1998 and 2018.
Earlier this month, the review, led by clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy, found schools and welfare systems were rewarding the 'labels' of ADHD and autism.
The report found that children diagnosed with ADHD before 17 are around four times less likely to be in education, employment or training in early adulthood, with each youngster in this situation costing taxpayers £244,000 [$327,000] over their lifetime.
Like Professor Frith and Dr Fisher, Prof Fonagy raised concerns about the 'consistency and quality' of assessments for the conditions carried out privately.
Today, private firms conduct more than half of NHS-funded ADHD assessments and a third of autism ones.
This is because demand has outstripped supply in many local areas, forcing NHS bosses to farm some mental health services out to private health companies.
Experts say the situation is worsened by England's Right to Choose scheme, which entitles patients to opt for an NHS-approved alternative provider if waits for local services are too long.
Experts have warned that private services are poorly regulated and are allowed to advertise their services directly to potential customers, while the NHS bears the cost. . . .
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The experts likened the growth in ADHD and autism diagnoses to a vicious circle.
First, rising demand prompted by 'greater social importance' prompts an increase in assessment providers.
Greater availability of assessments then leads to more diagnoses which, in turn, encourages more people to consider their distress may be due to ADHD or autism, Prof Uta Frith argued. . . .
'They encourage people to think that their struggles in life are due to a diagnosable disorder which has a medical treatment – and to therefore seek an assessment.'
According to analysis by comparison site ADHD Private, just two UK companies adopted 'ADHD' in their name in 2015.
By 2025, that figure had risen to 120, while a further 79 had done so by September 2026.
Prof Frith and Dr Fisher stressed that they do not wish to refuse help for people with the conditions who are in distress.
But they warned that the assessment system is not being used in the way it was designed to. . . .
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