Renowned psychiatrist Dr Thomas Szasz’s video on ADHD resurfaces: 'No behavior or misbehavior is a disease'

Thomas Szasz has resurfaced online, stirring a fresh debate on mental health diagnoses. Known for his radical views on psychiatry, Dr. Szasz was a fierce critic of the way psychiatric labels were used to control individuals and justify social oppression. In the viral clip, he draws comparisons between historical «diseases» once used to suppress marginalized groups and modern psychiatric diagnoses—particularly Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

«Slavery, Hysteria, and Now ADHD»— Dr. Szasz’s Bold Claim

In the video, Dr. Szasz points out how throughout history, psychiatry has been used as a tool for social control rather than genuine medical treatment. He cites the case of drapetomania, a so-called "mental illness" once diagnosed in enslaved Black people who tried to escape captivity. Similarly, in the 19th century, women who resisted societal norms were labeled as suffering from hysteria, a diagnosis that often led to forced institutionalization.

Bringing the discussion to modern times, Dr. Szasz makes his most controversial claim:

«None of those behaviors were ever a disease, and of course, they are not diseases. Nor is attention deficit disorder a disease. No behavior or misbehavior is a disease or can be a disease.»

According to Dr. Szasz, psychiatric labels like ADHD, rather than being rooted in objective medical science, serve as convenient explanations for behaviors that society finds inconvenient or disruptive.

What is ADHD, what are the symptoms, and how can it be