Review to examine if normal feelings are 'overdiagnosed' amid rise in autism and ADHD diagnoses

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By Jane Kirby and David Lynch, PA

Health secretary Wes Streeting has ordered an independent review into the sharp rise in mental health, autism and ADHD diagnoses as the government seeks to tackle the growing welfare bill and understand what is driving unprecedented demand for services.

The review, launched on Thursday, comes as figures show 4.4 million working-age people are now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit—an increase of 1.2 million since 2019. More than half of the rise in disability benefit claims since the pandemic is attributed to mental health or behavioural conditions, which now account for 44% of all claimants, totalling 1.3 million people.

Mr Streeting has tasked leading experts with examining whether normal feelings have become "over-diagnosed" and to provide an evidence-based understanding of rising rates.

The review will be led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London specialising in child mental health, with Sir Simon Wessely, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatry, acting as vice chairman.