New Channel 4 documentary, The Great ADHD Myth?, seeks to determine whether ADHD is a genuine neurodevelopmental disorder, or a social construct

With so many questions on what ADHD is, should we really be giving so many children powerful psychiatric drugs to medicate it?

The rise of ADHD is one the most prevalent health issues of the modern age. NHS data shows that there has been a 200% increase in the number of people being referred for an ADHD diagnosis between 2020 and 2025[1].

While the traits of ADHD undeniably exist – the question is why they exist. Is ADHD actually a neurodevelopmental disorder? Do people with ADHD have differently wired brains? Or does our world – with phones, ultra-processed food, and regimented education system – serve as the catalyst for certain responses and patterns of behaviour? 

And with such uncertainty around the condition, should we really be giving children mind-altering drugs to treat it?

Dr Max Pemberton, a full-time NHS psychiatrist, is determined to find out. The documentary hears from a growing number of medical experts who are questioning the conventional narrative around ADHD, many of whom have been senior in the NHS.  They discuss whether the real problem is the environments in which young people are growing up, as well as the current health and schooling systems not being flexible enough to cater for a wide enough range of personalities and behaviours among children.

“It is certainly not a medical condition as far as I’m concerned” – Dr Iona Heath, Former President of the Royal College of General Practitioners

“We’ve replaced corporal punishment with giving [children] a pill” – Dr Sami Timimi, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychotherapist

Concerned by the rise in the number of children taking medication for ADHD, with boys aged 10-14 comprising the largest group being medicated[2], Max meets with a young family who want to see whether holistic lifestyle changes can eliminate one boy’s use of ADHD medication. This boy undergoes an experiment over several weeks, replacing medication with sporting and creative activities, increased time spent outdoors and decreased access to screens and ultra processed foods. Will these changes enable him to come off medication altogether? 

Dr Max Pemberton said: “As a psychiatrist, I've watched ADHD go from a diagnosis that was only occasionally made and after careful assessment, to one that is increasingly demanded and dispensed, and I wanted to understand why. There's no doubt that the people seeking these diagnoses are genuinely struggling; that isn't in question. What the film asks is whether ADHD is really the best explanation for that struggle and my hope is that we come away with permission to ask better questions about what modern life is doing to all of us.”

Tim Hancock said: “Max Pemberton, along with Bafta-winning director Xavier Alford, have taken a science-led approach to look at one of the biggest health stories of our times, with fascinating results.”

Liam Humphreys, Executive Producer, said: “Max Pemberton's investigation into the dramatic rise in ADHD diagnoses results in some startling revelations and a film that promises to make viewers think very differently about how we are medicating a generation of children."

The Great ADHD Myth? Is a 1x60, produced by Minnow Films. The Commissioning Editor for Channel 4 is Tim Hancock. The Executive Producer is Liam Humphreys. The Senior Producer is Leah Green. The Director is Xavier Alford. 

[1] ADHD Management Information - November 2025 - NHS England Digital

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28336088/ (based on aggregated data across 5 countries – the UK, USA, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany)