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

Alexandra Brandt Ryborg Jønsson*

*Corresponding author

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

In this paper, I share insights from ongoing ethnographic fieldwork among adult Danes who identify as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) but do not meet the clinical standards and have yet to receive a diagnosis. These individuals are particularly relevant to the ongoing debates about under- and overdiagnosis of ADHD, as their claims to the diagnosis influence and mirror societal perceptions of what is considered normal and what is seen as a condition. Despite their symptoms not strictly meeting diagnostic criteria, thus risking overdiagnosis and associated psychiatric labeling, they perceive themselves as distinct from ‘normal’ people. Through a critical anthropological lens, I argue that medicalizing variations in human personality represents a contemporary societal epistemic error, drawing on Gregory Bateson’s work. I highlight the dynamics of diagnosis versus notions of normality in diagnosing and self-diagnosing ADHD. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing concerns of overdiagnosis as well as underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis. By illuminating the complexities of diagnostic processes and their societal implications, I aim to contribute to a richer understanding of mental health discourse and practice.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere215335
TidsskriftCulture, Medicine and Psychiatry
Vol/bindEarly view
ISSN0165-005X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2025

Emneord

  • ADHD
  • Epistemic Errors
  • Normality
  • Overdiagnosis

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