A new study using national hospital data has uncovered significant racial disparities in how disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) are diagnosed in children compared to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Researchers analyzed discharge data from over 700,000 pediatric inpatients with an average age of 9.3 years. Among children diagnosed with either ADHD or a DBD, those from racial minority groups were more likely to receive a DBD diagnosis.
Native American children had the highest odds of being diagnosed with a DBD rather than ADHD, at 2.18 times higher than white children. Asian children were 1.88 times more likely, Black children 1.40 times more likely, and Hispanic children 1.20 times more likely to receive a DBD diagnosis compared to white children.
The study authors note that while DBDs and ADHD have clinical overlap, there are stark differences in treatment approaches and societal accommodation between the two diagnoses. This amplifies the importance of investigating potential diagnostic biases.”By highlighting these diagnostic disparities, this study raises essential questions about race and the diagnosis of DBDs,” the researchers state. They call for urgent and rigorous exploration of the factors driving these disparities.
This large-scale analysis provides the most comprehensive look to date at racial differences in DBD diagnoses. The findings suggest a need to examine how race may be influencing mental health diagnoses and treatment for children across the United States.
