As sent to Ofcom and Channel 4.
The Scottish ADHD Coalition wishes to express an official complaint about the recent documentary aired on Channel 4, ‘The ADHD Myth’.
Whilst we recognise the right and indeed the duty of Channel 4 to provoke discussion and to challenge existing orthodoxies, we also believe that it has a responsibility to ensure that programme content does not deceive or mislead especially when considering topics that are complex and which may have an impact on a vulnerable population, and when viewers may attribute a level of authority to the broadcaster that fails to match the quality of material being aired.
The programme was for our constituents and members, disappointing.
Others have said that, “It felt like an attack”.
The documentary maker was provided with a platform to discuss an alternative perspective on ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition and the treatments that may reduce symptoms and impairments for both adults and children/young people. There is no harm in doing that as long as any views promoted can be supported by evidence and the broadcaster should have taken into account the potential for opinion to be treated as fact by those who may not have the analytical skills, or the knowledge base, to recognise flaws in logic or the paucity of supportive data.
- The programme appeared to promote erroneously the view that the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD relies only on the patient answering a check-list of questions relating to symptoms and failed to indicate that a diagnosis should not be provided unless these are leading to significant impairments in daily living. Such a flawed presentation could thus fuel scepticism about the fidelity of the diagnostic process and the argument that it is “easy to get a diagnosis in order to gain enhanced financial benefits such as PIP”.
- There is merit in advancing the argument that ADHD impairment is exacerbated by modern social demands, but the treatment of such a view was simplistic and focused on lifestyle changes that can yield at best only marginal improvements according to a broad research-base. There was a missed opportunity to develop this topic in such a way that it avoided the implication that parents were to blame for their children’s difficulties by placing ADHD in a broader social context.
- Our members were also highly critical of the ‘experiment’ that took place with one family in which multiple changes were made and conclusions drawn when it was not possible to identify causation due to the poor construction of the trial, the lack of any control, and no consideration given to the possibility that adaptations to daily living IN ADDITION to medication might have yielded a more sustainable improvement to quality of life.
- Professionals who contributed to the programme in good faith are now claiming that their opinions were misrepresented by being taken out of context or presented in an imbalanced manner. This is not acceptable and may be in breach of the broadcaster’s obligations to present factual material in such a way that it does not mislead: “2.2: Factual programmes or items or portrayals of factual matters must not materially mislead the audience.”
Given the nationwide concerns that this programme has raised we feel that it provides Channel 4 with an ideal opportunity for others to present a more balanced, evidence-based, discourse on the topics raised and the overwhelming view of our own membership is not that discussion should be ‘shut-down’, but that whatever comes next should be of a much higher quality.
We look forward to that.
Yours faithfully,
Bill Colley, Chair, on behalf of the Scottish ADHD Coalition
5th September 2026
The Scottish ADHD Coalition brings together voluntary organisations providing support to adults and children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and their parents, carers and families. You can sign up to our mailing list here, read our FAQs, or find your nearest support group.