Neuroscientist accuses ADHD documentary of ‘cherry-picking’ her comments

monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

Daniel Pye

A leading neuroscientist has accused a Channel 4 documentary questioning whether attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a medical condition of “cherry-picking” her comments to fit its narrative.

Professor Katya Rubia, professor of cognitive neuroscience at King’s College London, said her contribution to The Great ADHD Myth? was “truncated and presented out of context”.

The documentary, presented by consultant psychiatrist and journalist Dr Max Pemberton, concluded that ADHD was a “social construct” rather than a neurodevelopmental disorder.

It featured 10-year-old Mason, who was taken off his ADHD medication during the programme.

Although his ability to pay attention at school declined, his mother Shauna told Pemberton that her son had his “sparkle” back, while his teacher said he appeared less reserved and was socialising more with other children.

However, the programme’s end credits revealed that Shauna decided to restart his medication two months later following poor exam results.

Several experts featured in the documentary questioned whether children were being medicated to help them fit into the education system rather than because of a clinical need.