Question diagnoses and efficacy of drugs

IT was with deep concern that I read about the alleged mental health crisis facing schools (Irish Examiner, December 5).

It is claimed that 26,000 pupils may have undiagnosed ‘mental disorders’, the main ones being attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and various learning disorders.

It must be remembered, though, that these so-called disorders and mental illnesses have never been confirmed through any objective medically based tests. They are believed to be related to some neurochemical defect or imbalance and yet no sound scientific evidence has ever been presented to support this.