"Discussions about the overdiagnosis of ADHD imply that you either have it or you don't. However, when epidemiologists ask people in the general population about their symptoms of ADHD, some have a few symptoms, some have a moderate level, and a few have lots of symptoms. But there is no clear dividing line between those who are diagnosed with ADHD and those who are not since ADHD-much like blood pressure- occurs on a spectrum."
"Not only can ADHD symptoms be very different from person to person, but research shows that ADHD symptoms can change within an individual. For example, symptoms become more severe when the challenges of life increase. ADHD symptoms fluctuate depending on many factors, including whether the person is at school or home, whether they have had enough sleep, if they are under a great deal of stress, or if they are taking medications or other substances."
ADHD occurs on a spectrum with no clear dividing line between diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals. Population assessments show people with few, moderate, or many ADHD symptoms rather than a binary distribution. Symptom severity and functional impairment fluctuate within individuals depending on context, stress, sleep, environment, and substance use. Treatment decisions for mild ADHD require assessing daily life impact and are analogous to treating mild high blood pressure. Rising diagnosis rates and increased assessment requests can reflect greater recognition and situational impairment rather than systemic overdiagnosis.
Read at Fast Company
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