As a doctor the question that I find worth asking out loud. Are people gaming the system to get ADHD meds in India?
Lately I’ve been noticing a huge rise in awareness around adult ADHD in India, which is definitely a good thing. But at the same time, it also feels like more people are learning exactly what to say in consultations to get prescribed stimulants like Methylphenidate.
I’m curious what others here think. Especially psychiatrists, psychologists, med students, or people genuinely diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Some things I’ve heard people doing:
- Memorising DSM-5 symptom lists before appointments
- exaggerating “childhood symptoms”
- using online ASRS screeners and repeating those answers verbatim
- doctor shopping until someone prescribes
- claiming productivity/work issues mainly to access stimulants
- students using meds academically without formal diagnosis
At the same time, I also know many genuine ADHD patients struggle for years to even be taken seriously in India.
So where do we draw the line between:
- under diagnosis,
- increased awareness,
- outright stimulant-seeking?
I ask this because today I had a patient come in and parrot all the symptoms mentioned. Idk i did prescribe him the meds. Im against any patient being under diagnosed.
And my take is only with time is it probably appropriate to say whether it was a proper diagnosis or not.
Edit:
To all those calling me an asshole, pls be reminded I do not condone under diagnosing or misdiagnosing. If anything, the question was raised by me to actually understand how people feel about this.
If you need to call someone an asshole then you can go ahead and call your own doctors that, the ones who you felt didn't diagnose you properly.