If psychiatrists diagnose ADHD, wouldn’t that mean adhd is a mental illness?

[Anonymous]

[abc3643]

I am not sure "mental illness" is the appropriate technical term - more likely "mental disorder" - but it is a diagnosible condition. It is documented in "DSM-5" which is "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition" published in 2013 but had a slight update in 2024. The DSM is the standard in the USA for diagnosing in psychiatry.

The CDC has a nice summary here...
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/diagnosis/index.html

[DrPepper12]

It is a disorder not an illness.

[Effably]

Yes and no, mostly no.

ADHD is diagnosed by referencing the DSM-V. Here many things are originally classified as illness. That is the yes part.

Today psychologists and psychiatrist also diagnose intelligence, gifted people, savants and more.

Because of this our understanding is changing. Now a psychiatrist primarily diagnoses divergence. As in, areas where someone is different from the majority of people. And then proceed to provide help adapting to this.

With this comes the acceptance that ADHD is a divergence, not an illness. We should always be careful about normalizing illness but in this case it isn't really an illness any more than being a morning person is.

We have a society built on people being morning people. But out actual biology is split in a rough half. This is an evolutionary advantage as it means some people can be up and guard early and some late. In truth making everyone start work at 6 in the morning is insanity. Similarly, assuming everyone thinks the same way, tires the same way and loves smalltalk is also insanity.

So the TLDR is that ADHD is no more an ill ess than being highly intelligent. Both come with their own unique approaches to life.

[capriVib]

ADHD is not a mental illness, it has medications when you take them, you’ll be better than before.

[jahaims]

Adhd is neurodevelopmental which can lead to mental health issues

[Twalli]

It's a mental difference, but not illness. People who are mentally stable visit psychiatrists.

[exitseven]

I always thought that it was.

[Agape93]

Duh.