Adolescents’ experiences of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a phenomenological study conducted in Sweden

Frondelius, Iwona Andersson; Ranjbar, Vania; Danielsson, Louise

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031570

Cited by 7 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…empowerment for those involved. It provided a biomedical explanation for experienced problems, supporting a sense of legitimacy 57,214-217 accompanied by understanding and sympathy [215][216][217][218][219][220][221][222] as well as decreased guilt, blame, and anger. 57,214,215,219,222,223 Subsequently, this explanation could increase perceived control, with expectations of solutions, 214,215,218,222 enhanced confidence, 215,218,220 and a sense of belonging.…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Might harms outweigh benefits of diagnosis? (n = 31 studies) Potential benefits of diagnosis (15) Empowered ( 14) through Explanation for problems (11) Increased legitimacy and validation (5) 57, [214][215][216][217] Increased understanding, sympathy, and reassurance (8) [215][216][217][218][219][220][221][222] Decreased guilt, blame, failure, and anger (6) 57, 214,215,219,222,223 Increased control (6) Decreased uncertainty; feeling of identity and belonging (3) 215,218,223 Increased self-esteem and confidence (3) 215,218,220 Expectation of solution (4) 214,215,218,222 Enabled (10) to Support (10) Increased ability to seek, receive, and accept support (10) 57,96, [214][215][216][217]219,220,222,223 Potential harms of diagnosis (29) Disempowered (22) through Excuse for problems (15) Decreased responsibility for behaviors and problems (6)…”

Section: Benefits May Be Outweighed By Harms In Youth With Milder Adh...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…57,214,215,219,222,223 Subsequently, this explanation could increase perceived control, with expectations of solutions, 214,215,218,222 enhanced confidence, 215,218,220 and a sense of belonging. 215,218,223 Second, enablement was often experienced 57,96, [214][215][216][217]219,220,222,223 and was characterized by increased support accompanying a diagnosis of ADHD and by an enhanced ability to seek and accept help. 215,216,222,223 Two themes related to potential harms also emerged.…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By providing an excuse for problems, a decrease in responsibility by all involved can occur, 96,214,216,220,224,225 often followed by inaction and stagnation. 96,103,216,218,220,222,[226][227][228][229] This view can also deflect from other underlying individual, social, or systemic problems, 57,214,215 which can prompt a self-fulfilling prophecy, wherein the perceived inability to change reduces opportunities 64,215,217,[230][231][232][233][234][235] as well as promotes hopelessness and passiveness. 215,216,222 This loss of control may be especially high when the diagnosis is used as a step toward coercing young people into correcting arguably problematic behaviors.…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…96,214,220,223 Second, 14 studies reported on stigmatization. The diagnosis can create an identity that enhances prejudice and judgment, [215][216][217][218]220,222,225,230,232,[236][237][238][239][240] which are associated with even greater feelings of isolation, exclusion, and shame. 216,220,225 Treatment | A total of 120 studies reported on the consequences of pharmacological treatment.…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overdiagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents

et al. 2021

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IMPORTANCE Reported increases in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses are accompanied by growing debate about the underlying factors. Although overdiagnosis is often suggested, no comprehensive evaluation of evidence for or against overdiagnosis has ever been undertaken and is urgently needed to enable evidence-based, patient-centered diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in contemporary health services. OBJECTIVE To systematically identify, appraise, and synthesize the evidence on overdiagnosis of ADHD in children and adolescents using a published 5-question framework for detecting overdiagnosis in noncancer conditions. EVIDENCE REVIEW This systematic scoping review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews and Joanna Briggs Methodology, including the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies published in English between January 1, 1979, and August 21, 2020. Studies of children and adolescents (aged Յ18 years) with ADHD that focused on overdiagnosis plus studies that could be mapped to 1 or more framework question were included.Two researchers independently reviewed all abstracts and full-text articles, and all included studies were assessed for quality. FINDINGS Of the 12 267 potentially relevant studies retrieved, 334 (2.7%) were included. Of the 334 studies, 61 (18.3%) were secondary and 273 (81.7%) were primary research articles. Substantial evidence of a reservoir of ADHD was found in 104 studies, providing a potential for diagnoses to increase (question 1). Evidence that actual ADHD diagnosis had increased was found in 45 studies (question 2). Twenty-five studies showed that these additional cases may be on the milder end of the ADHD spectrum (question 3), and 83 studies showed that pharmacological treatment of ADHD was increasing (question 4). A total of 151 studies reported on outcomes of diagnosis and pharmacological treatment (question 5). However, only 5 studies evaluated the critical issue of benefits and harms among the additional, milder cases. These studies supported a hypothesis of diminishing returns in which the harms may outweigh the benefits for youths with milder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThis review found evidence of ADHD overdiagnosis and overtreatment in children and adolescents. Evidence gaps remain and future research is needed, in particular research on the long-term benefits and harms of diagnosing and treating ADHD in youths with milder symptoms; therefore, practitioners should be mindful of these knowledge gaps, especially when identifying these individuals and to ensure safe and equitable practice and policy.

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Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Benefits May Be Outweighed By Harms In Youth With Milder Adh...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Jama Network Open | Pediatricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overdiagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents

et al. 2021

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Utilizing the Common-Sense model of illness representations to explore children’s perceptions of, and coping with ADHD

Ringer

2020

Journal of Mental Health

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Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among children is associated with difficulties in everyday functioning. According to the Common-Sense Model of Illness Representations (CSM), individuals' beliefs about their illness condition guide their attempts to cope with it. The model suggests five dimensions of illness representations: beliefs regarding the identity of the symptoms, its duration, causes, consequences, and one's ability to achieve control over it. Aims: The study aimed to explore the validity of the CSM-dimensions of illness representations for children with ADHD, while also exploring the possible relationships between types of beliefs and coping strategies. Method: A deductive qualitative content analysis was used for analyzing data constructed from semistructured individual interviews with 14 children diagnosed with ADHD. Results: The results have shown that there is a variation in children's beliefs regarding their ADHD. Those beliefs are, for the most part, captured by the five CSM-dimensions. An additional dimension of 'Uniqueness' is suggested, which reflects children's beliefs on the way ADHD distinguishes them from other children. Patterns regarding types of beliefs and types of coping strategies were identified. Conclusions: The CSM is a useful theoretical model to understand children's beliefs of, and coping with their ADHD.

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When ADHD knocks on the door – discourse theory as a frame to explore subject positions and mental wellbeing before diagnosis

Grønneberg

Engebretsen

Løkkeberg

2023

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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Purpose Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently the most prevalent childhood psychiatric diagnosis. This article reports how 10 young adults in Norway positioned themselves before they were diagnosed with ADHD either during early childhood or adolescence. A central theme is how these subject-positions relate to societal norms and mental well-being. Method Individual interviews were conducted, and the transcriptions of the interviews were analysed according to discourse theory. Result Six central subject positions were identified which in turn related to two major positions: 1) failure with schoolwork and 2) struggle in social interaction. The findings indicated specific emotional and environmental needs and that individuals were confronted with societal norms related to the criteria for ADHD prior to and regardless of whether one had received a formal diagnosis. Conclusion We argue that analysing subject positions provides important knowledge regarding ADHD that is useful for individuals, parents, teachers, practitioners, policymakers, and helping professionals in the field of mental health and education when it comes to interventions that support children who possess different temperaments.

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Adolescents’ experiences of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a phenomenological study conducted in Sweden

Cited by 7 publications

References 50 publications

Overdiagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Overdiagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Utilizing the Common-Sense model of illness representations to explore children’s perceptions of, and coping with ADHD

When ADHD knocks on the door – discourse theory as a frame to explore subject positions and mental wellbeing before diagnosis

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