Expert: Ban psych labels such as ADHD

PSYCHIATRIC labels such as schizophrenia, bipolar, ADHD and even depression must be abolished as they serve no positive purpose and may hamper long-term recovery, a conference has heard.

Renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Sami Timimi has begun what he calls an evidence-based campaign to do away with labels in the field. He argues there is no scientific evidence to back up a system of ticking boxes which puts people in a “category” which then determines how they will be treated.

Dr Timini, a founding member of the International Critical Psychiatry Network, has argued that diagnosis has become an explanation for what is wrong with someone, rather than a description of what is wrong.