Misdiagnosis and ADHD

ADHD, a developmental disorder that affects an individual’s ability to self-regulate, has become an increasingly common diagnosis, especially in children and adolescents. The treatment of choice is stimulant medication. Problem solved.

Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that.

In a systematic scoping review of 334 published studies in children and adolescents, there was convincing evidence that ADHD is being overdiagnosed in children and adolescents. Additionally, it was found that for those with milder symptoms, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱.

Some studies showed that the biomedical view was associated with disempowerment. The diagnosis can decrease a sense of responsibility by all involved, and can also ‘deflect from other underlying individual, social, or systemic problems.’ Additionally, receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be associated with stigmatization producing even greater feelings of ‘isolation, exclusion, and shame’.

Given the potential damage that a misdiagnosis can cause, all ADHD diagnoses should be carefully considered, with environmental explanations for certain behaviors also taken into account.