ADHD, Health Anxiety and the Hidden Harm of Overdiagnosis

Can a diagnosis sometimes do more harm than good?

Claire Sanderson and Gemma Atkinson are joined by consultant neurologist and bestselling author Suzanne O’Sullivan to explore why more people are receiving medical labels—and whether those labels always lead to better health.

Suzanne explains the important difference between misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis, and why finding an abnormality doesn’t necessarily mean it will ever make you ill. The conversation covers the rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses, the risks of medicating children too readily, health anxiety, wearables, full-body scans and the impact of constantly monitoring our bodies.

They also ask whether ordinary sadness and anxiety are becoming overmedicalised, and how we can raise awareness of menopause without making women fear it.

Suzanne’s views have attracted criticism, but her argument isn’t that people should ignore symptoms or avoid medical care. Instead, she wants us to ask: what will this diagnosis give me, what harm could it cause and will it meaningfully improve my life?

Suzanne O’Sullivan’s latest book is The Age of Diagnosis.

This episode is for general information and discussion and should not replace personalised medical advice.

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