In 50 Years Of ADHD Research, Black Women Were Centered Once. That’s The Problem [Op-Ed]
This absence means that the research doesn’t reflect reality because Black women do have ADHD, but we're not represented in the data. The post In 50 Years Of ADHD Research, Black Women Were Centered Once. That’s The Problem [Op-Ed] appeared first on MadameNoire.
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In 1798, behaviors that looked like what we now call attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were documented. By 1968, “hyperkinetic syndrome” appeared in the second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Today, ADHD is internationally recognized as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Its symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and challenges with executive function. People with ADHD also often have co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, substance use, and eating disorders. This is backed by decades of research, clinical guidelines, and treatment protocols.
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In more than two centuries of documentation and nearly 60 years of formal study of ADHD, the experiences of Black women have been almost entirely ignored. This means that the research doesn’t reflect reality because Black women do have ADHD. But they’re not represented in the data used to estimate how many people have ADHD and how it affects them. absense
In 2020, researchers looked at 21 studies and estimated that 15% of Black people in the U.S. have ADHD. However, just two of those studies examined adults. The result is a prevalence rate that tells us little about Black adults, especially Black women. This underscores a persistent problem: The data that shapes diagnosis and treatment doesn’t reflect the full spectrum of people who have ADHD.
The post In 50 Years Of ADHD Research, Black Women Were Centered Once. That’s The Problem [Op-Ed] appeared first on MadameNoire.
