Adults Share Life-Changing Impact of ADHD Diagnoses; However, Some Fall Prey to Misleading Information Online
Hop on TikTok or Instagram, and you'll stumble upon a hot new trend:
ADHD content is popping up everywhere, whether it's advice, struggling stories, or trendy personal perspectives. This surge in videos has shed light on what was once thought to be a childhood disorder, rarely encountered in adulthood.
But a 2023 report by Manulife reveals a 25% increase in medication claims submitted by adults diagnosed with ADHD in Canada between 2021 and 2022. The rise in cases is linked to the exposure brought on by the pandemic, as structured work environments were stripped away, revealing previously hidden symptoms.
While social media has raised awareness of adult ADHD, there's a dark side to this trend. A recent study conducted at the University of British Columbia highlights the spread of misinformation, leading to incorrect self-diagnoses based on symptoms not aligned with clinical guidelines.
"People on TikTok aren't always professionals discussing their findings," says Dr. Doron Almagor, Psychiatrist and Chair of the Advisory Council for the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA). "They talk about their own symptoms, but those might not apply to everyone."
Psychiatric nurse practitioner Jamal Virani explains that the influx of ADHD videos is causing more adults to assume they have it, when instead they might be dealing with a different health issue altogether.
In a study analyzing the 100 most-viewed TikTok videos related to ADHD, less than half of the claimed symptoms aligned with clinical diagnosis guidelines. A similar 2022 study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry found that 52% of videos were misleading, 27% were based on personal experiences, and only 21% were helpful.
Almagor warns against believing common ADHD myths, such as that the disorder is a harmless cause of inattention or hyperactivity. If left untreated, ADHD can lead to substance abuse, depression, broken relationships, job loss, and even increased mortality rates.
"It's a serious public health issue," Almagor emphasizes.
ADHD in Adults: A Hidden Problem
ADHD, also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder that, according to the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, affects about 4-6% of adults, or around 1.8 million Canadians. ADHD presents itself during childhood, typically before age 12.
Expert consensus held that ADHD in adults wasn't a recognized issue until the 1990s. Today, experts like Claire Sira, a registered psychologist in Victoria specializing in ADHD and an executive board member for the Canadian Psychological Association, consider ADHD more accurately as a disorder of attentional control and executive functioning rather than attention deficit.
"It's not that people can't pay attention; it's that we can't organize ourselves and control where our attention goes," says Sira, who was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.
The system struggles to accommodate adults needing proper assessments, as not enough family physicians have the expertise to diagnose and treat them. The health system doesn't provide physicians the time to perform a proper ADHD assessment, especially for complex cases, and psychologists and nurse practitioners are not typically covered by OHIP.
A proper assessment involves extensive psychological testing, personal and family histories, medical and school records, and multiple interviews—a process that can take up to ten hours or more.
Misdiagnosed in the Digital Age
Rebecca Bruzzese, a 33-year-old from Toronto, struggled with mental health issues for years before being diagnosed with ADHD at 28. Initially misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated with lithium for two years, the experience made her life woefully worse.
"A great deal of the behaviors I experienced that led to the bipolar diagnosis—which I never felt fitted—really clicked within the umbrella of ADHD," says Bruzzese.
Hoping for answers, Bruzzese dove into research on ADHD. After discovering misinformation led to her delayed diagnosis, she suggests those experiencing similar difficulties should seek out multiple opinions.
Victor Melgar, 33, also from Toronto, was diagnosed with ADHD after seeking help for severe depression, due in part to his participation in risky behaviors, including sex and alcohol misuse. He received his diagnosis through a private assessment with the help of work insurance benefits.
The experience made Melgar realize that his immigrant parents, who struggled with language and cultural barriers, might not have understood that help was needed for their child. "If those symptoms aren't noticed or addressed early on, they can have a devastating impact on people's lives," says Melgar.
The increasing awareness of ADHD in adults means that proper assessments have become more crucial than ever. While online health services claim to offer quick diagnoses for a few hundred dollars and low monthly fees, mental health practitioners Almagor and Sira warn that many of those diagnosed at online services feel misunderstood or inaccurately diagnosed when they seek help from professionals.
Bruzzese and Melgar say their ADHD diagnoses and treatment have been "life-changing."
"The first time I took the proper medication, I cried," says Bruzzese, filled with a mix of joy and sorrow. "It felt almost like jealousy that people just get to feel like that every day."
Sources:
- Cummings, N. (2019, Jun 26). ADHD and the Impact of Social Media. The Aspen Institute. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/adhd-and-the-impact-of-social-media/
- Mazurek, C. A., Brunetti, S. H., Horowitz, J. M., & Kinder, M. C. (2020). A Review of Online Information Seeking for ADHD: User, Information, and Research Issues. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8), e19245.
- Canadian Psychological Association. (2019). Myths and Facts about ADHD in Adults. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://cpa.ca/docs/public/ADHDMYTHSFATS_EN.pdf
- Ritter, N. (2016, Jul 20). How ADHD Manifests in Adults. Psych Central. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-adhd-manifests-in-adults/
- Penn, D. (2021, Feb 1). Diagnosing ADHD Online: Risks and Rewards. The Mighty. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://themighty.com/2021/02/diagnosing-adhd-online-risks-and-rewards/
- Social media platforms have featured a rise in ADHD content, shedding light on a disorder once believed to be rare in adulthood.
- In 2023, Manulife reported a significant increase in medication claims submitted by adults diagnosed with ADHD in Canada.
- Despite raising awareness, social media has also been cited for spreading misinformation about ADHD, potentially leading to incorrect self-diagnoses.
- A proper ADHD assessment for adults can be challenging due to limited availability of family physicians with the necessary expertise.
- If left untreated, ADHD can lead to various consequences, including substance abuse, depression, broken relationships, job loss, and increased mortality rates.
- In a study analyzing TikTok videos related to ADHD, less than half of the claimed symptoms aligned with clinical diagnosis guidelines.
- Properly diagnosed with ADHD at 28, Rebecca Bruzzese stresses the importance of seeking multiple opinions for accurate diagnosis.
- With proper diagnosis and treatment, both Rebecca Bruzzese and Victor Melgar report their ADHD diagnoses as life-changing, advocating for increased awareness and understanding of the disorder in adults.
