ve ADHD or not. The person's use of the label "ADHD" in this statement links ADHD with this incredibly common tendency experienced by millions of developmentally healthy people every day. However, the Barnum effect leads us to believe that the statement is true and applies specifically to us. The Barnum Effect happens because we often want to feel special and understood, so when we hear something that sounds like it describes us, we tend to believe it, even if it's not actually that unique or specific. It is so important to keep the Barnum Effect in mind as we peruse social media, consume news media, work with salespeople, or decide whether to pursue costly treatments marketed as an easy fix for everyday problems and inconveniences, such as those purported to be caused by ADHD.
Why is ADHD Overdiagnosis Bad?
If a person struggles with concentration problems, brain fog, or disorganization, why not just diagnose them with ADHD? After all, people with ADHD commonly report these symptoms so perhaps physicians should just provide stimulant medications, accommodations, or interventions for anybody with these complaints. Unfortunately, doing so causes immense harm not just to the person with the inaccurate diagnosis, but to the broader ADHD community. Apart from simple diagnostic inaccuracy, when a person receives a "false positive" ADHD diagnosis (meaning they are diagnosed with the condition, but do not actually have it), several adverse outcomes occur. These negative outcomes include:
- Entrenching pathological beliefs and behavior
- Encouraging accommodating behaviors in loved ones and society (unnecessary accommodations or interventions)
- Promoting an external locus of control (believing ADHD prevents them from making positive changes in their life)
- Diverting resources away from the ADHD community
- Delaying treatment of psychopathology
- Incurring unnecessary medical and behavioral health costs
- Developmentally healthy individuals appropriating the very real and significant experiences of people with a true developmental disorder
How do I Ensure an Accurate ADHD Assessment?
Raising awareness among healthcare professionals, educators, parents, and the general public about the complexities of ADHD diagnosis is crucial. This can help prevent hasty decisions and encourage a more informed and thoughtful approach. While ADHD is a genuine and serious condition, the tendency to diagnose it too readily can lead to significant negative consequences for individuals and society at large. ADHD assessments are typically covered by major health insurance companies with a physician referral to a qualified provider such as a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, or psychiatrist. It is crucial that an ADHD assessment is completed by a qualified professional such as a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, or psychiatrist so that an accurate diagnosis can be provided that is accepted by prescribers, accepted by health insurance payers, and meets requirements for diagnostic rigor.
There are several Red Flags to watch for that can signal an ADHD assessment will not provide the necessary expertise or requirements for adequate clinical care, and are likely to be harmful to patients:
- ADHD assessments completed by masters-level clinicians without any oversight or supervision from doctoral level providers such as clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, or psychiatrists. This guideline may vary by jurisdiction, though in the state of Missouri and others, clinicians with masters-only levels of training are unable to provide diagnoses that meet qualifications for accurate diagnosis, prescription of medications, or coverage from health insurance companies. This leaves patients and families often having to pay exorbitant out of pocket costs to unqualified providers for assessments that are not even capable of addressing their diagnostic questions or getting them help that they may need. Before engaging services of any clinician for an ADHD assessment, it is important to ask if a doctoral-level provider is conducting or supervising the 