Young Black children, particularly Black male children, are not as likely to get diagnosed and treated for ADHD, according to a newly released study.
Published by researchers from Penn State in Psychiatry Research, the study analyzed previously published data by the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study which examined the data of children who entered the school system and began kindergarten from 2010 to 2011.
Studying the information of these 10,000 students, the researchers reported that, although factors such as economic status, behavior, student achievement and executive functioning were identical for all students, Black students were 40% less likely to get diagnosed with ADHD compared to white students.
For Black male students, the rate was even lower. Despite the disorder being equally common, Black male students were 60% less likely to get diagnosed with ADHD when compared to white male students diagnosed with ADHD.
A variety of factors contribute to these lower rates of diagnoses.
In another research study published in 2021 on the topic, members of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology and Department of Health Sciences Research identified medical professionals as playing a part in exacerbating the rate of undiagnosed and untreated Black children with ADHD.
Our study reporting on sociodemographic disparities in #ADHD diagnosis and treatment has now been published in Psychiatry Research and is freely available for download here: https://t.co/6eQAfoW9lm @Eric_hhy @UAlbanySPH @ualbany #disparities pic.twitter.com/xfeacR2hZ6
— Paul Morgan???????? (@PaulMorganPhD) August 17, 2023
“Stereotype and bias, both explicit and implicit, have been increasingly recognized as factors potentially contributing to physicians’ clinical decision-making,” wrote the researchers in their study. “It is possible, for example, that identical behavior displayed by Black and non-Hispanic White children may be interpreted differently based on race-based expectations for the behavior of children, and thus, behavior that is identified as disordered in White children might be inappropriately interpreted as normal in Black children.”
As more studies and reports continue to be published in scientific journals about the disorder, researchers continue to stress the importance of diagnosing and treating ADHD. Particularly as, with the prevalence in ADHD, recent studies have identified that other conditions are likely to be present as well.
In September, it was reported that ADHD is associated with higher incident rates of PTSD, depression, and anorexia. Overall, as people diagnosed with only ADHD had an increased 18% chance of developing PTSD, people with ADHD were also nine percent more likely to develop depression. If they had both ADHD and depression, the chance at developing PTSD rose by 67%.
ADHD was also linked with higher rates of attempted suicide. Per the study, people with both ADHD and depression were 42% more likely to attempt to take their own lives.
With the latest findings, the researchers stressed the importance of early screenings to diagnose patients with ADHD.
“This would allow for early treatment tailored to the patient,” said lead researcher of the study, Dr. Dennis Freuer, per CNN. “From a personal and family point of view, I think it is important not to underestimate any symptoms and the disease itself and its possible consequences and to seek professional help in time.”
