Negotiating Normalcy: Epistemic Errors in Self-Diagnosing Late-ADHD

Area of Science:

• Anthropology
• Sociology of Mental Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Ongoing debates surround the overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Individuals who identify with ADHD symptoms but do not meet clinical diagnostic criteria are a key focus.
• Societal perceptions of normality and conditions influence ADHD diagnosis and self-diagnosis trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of adult Danes who self-identify with ADHD but lack a formal diagnosis.
• To analyze how these self-perceptions interact with societal definitions of ADHD and normality.
• To critically examine the medicalization of personality variations in the context of ADHD.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic fieldwork among adult Danes.
• Critical anthropological analysis, drawing on Gregory Bateson's theories.
• Examination of the dynamics between formal diagnosis, self-diagnosis, and societal norms of normality.

Main Results:

• Individuals with self-perceived ADHD, despite not meeting diagnostic criteria, feel distinct from 'normal' individuals.
• The medicalization of personality variations is presented as a potential societal epistemic error.
• The study highlights the complex interplay between diagnostic processes, self-diagnosis, and societal perceptions of ADHD.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the nuances of ADHD diagnosis and self-diagnosis is crucial for addressing diagnostic challenges.
• Medicalizing personality variations may lead to misinterpretations and misdiagnoses of ADHD.
• The research contributes to a deeper understanding of mental health discourse and diagnostic practices surrounding ADHD.