1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Bryan Bridge in February. GPS and nurse practitioners will be 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: able to diagnose and treat ADHD, so should say people 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: hundreds of dollars and clear a backlog of waiting to 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: see a psychiatrist to get that diagnosis. But the question 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: is do you run the risk of over diagnosing ADHD. 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: Darren Bill is the ADHD New Zealand spokesperson with us 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: this morning. Darren, good morning, good morning, how you doing good? 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: Thank you? So how long is the backlog? How long 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: does it take to see a psychiatrist to get your 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: diagnosis At the moment. 11 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: It depends where you live in New Zealand have had 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 2: report anywhere for six months in Aukland to eighteen months 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 2: in the South Island. But it very much depends where 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 2: you live. 15 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: And the people going to a psychiatrist saying I think 16 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: I've got ADHD? Can you diagnose me? 17 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? Sometimes that is the starting of the conversation. Other 18 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: times has broader mental health issues or other issues they 19 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: want to seek helpful. 20 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: Do you think this will mean more people get ADHD medication? 21 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: I suppose that it'd be the logical outcome. 22 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: Yes, it is the logical outcome. Access for our community 23 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 2: to get the help and the support will mean that 24 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 2: some will get more medication and there'll be a greater 25 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 2: access to medication. But putting in context though, the number 26 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 2: of people who have been diagnosed in New Zealand compared 27 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: to OEC standards according to Otaga University last year is 28 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: at least half. So we have a massive undiagnosis issue here. 29 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: What's what's the percentage of the population overseas that has 30 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: ADHD or has been diagnosed with ADHD. 31 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 2: Statistically and I'm rounding, it's you know, four to five 32 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 2: percent and in New Zealand it's around two to two 33 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: point two percent of the population. 34 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: Okay. And the fact that we've had a tenfold increase 35 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: in prescriptions over fifteen odd years, is that because people 36 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: weren't diagnosed or have we got a whole bunch of 37 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: people who are now suddenly the ADHD. I've got ADHD. 38 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, it's a question of masked most often it is. 39 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: The tenfold increase is to be celebrated because it means 40 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: people who have ADHD are getting their assistance and care 41 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: that they need. In addition, the science around ADHD has 42 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: improved remarkably. You know, if you go back, you know, 43 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: even fifteen years ago, unheard of that females to get ADHD, 44 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: for example, and yet they are exactly they are disposed 45 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: or predisposed to ADHD like anybody else in terms of 46 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: percentage of population. 47 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: What do you say to people who think this is 48 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: all a bit of a myth, you know, people who 49 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: say I'm a little bit ADHD and then they then 50 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: they get it, you know, get it medication, and it's like, 51 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: do you do you actually have ADHD? You know, I 52 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: don't know. 53 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, ADHD is not as easy as that. It is 54 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 2: a complicated diagnosis, which is why trained medical professionals are 55 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 2: required to do it and not tip time or not 56 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: a quick online survey. And it has a lot of 57 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 2: comorbidity such as learning disorders, social anxiety and things like that. 58 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 2: So it's not just a simple diagnosis. 59 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: Is it kind of annoying that you have all those 60 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: TikTok kids going I've got ADHD and they have no prescription, 61 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: no diagnosis, and they're just trying to be true. I 62 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: don't know, it's a must trend to be you know, 63 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: touch of that. 64 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, if I find TikTok annoying full stop. But 65 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: it is really annoying and it is also dangerous because 66 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: it creates a trend and overseas highlights research in the 67 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: US highlights how dangerous it can be. 68 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: Darren, appreciate your time this morning Darren ball ADHD New 69 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: Zealand spokespersons for more. 70 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: From Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. 71 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: Listen live to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, 72 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.