The overdiagnosis and overtreatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause harm to children and negatively affect how patients with moderate to severe symptoms are treated. According to a study in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, White children are more likely to be overdiagnosed and overtreated than non-White children.
Around 10% of children in elementary school may be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, some of these children may be overdiagnosed with ADHD. The overdiagnosis of ADHD is characterized by diagnosing a child with ADHD when they show no significant dysfunction and no or mild symptoms. Previous studies have shown that around 20% of children not meeting diagnostic criteria are diagnosed with ADHD. In addition, sociodemographic factors may play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.
Past studies have found that non-White children or children with a poor socioeconomic status are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for ADHD than White children. A study published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities extended these findings to the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of ADHD in children. Researchers evaluated data from a population-based cohort of elementary schoolchildren in the U.S. Parent and teacher ratings of behavioral functioning in the children were recorded every spring from kindergarten through first grade.
Results from the study showed that ADHD diagnosis and treatment were more likely to occur in White children than in non-White children who showed above-average academic and behavioral functioning with no previous history of ADHD. Among the children who displayed above-average academic and behavioral functioning, 27% of White children were later diagnosed with ADHD and 20% of White children were later taking medication. In contrast, 19% of non-White children in the study analysis were later diagnosed with ADHD and 14% of non-White children were later using medication.
The investigators of the study recommend mental healthcare providers strictly adhere to standardized diagnostic and treatment criteria for ADHD to reduce these disparities in ADHD in children. Preventing the inappropriate diagnosis of ADHD can help promote better care and decrease the negative effects of ADHD treatment.
Source:
Morgan, P. L., Woods, A. D., & Wang, Y. (2022). Sociodemographic Disparities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment During Elementary School. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 222194221099675. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222194221099675
