Misdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder As Conduct Disorder in A Bullying Context

Misdiagnosis misinforms treatments and results in undesired outcomes in clinical and psychiatric practices. Such incidences are common in psychiatric spaces and clinics, with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) misdiagnosis for Conduct Disorder (CD) emerging as a common occurrence. This case critiques ADHD’s misdiagnosis for CD in a 13-year-old Indian-American, unveiling the effects of environmental stressors, bullying and racial discrimination on the symptoms of ADHD. A 13-year-old Indian-American attends a special education facility and faces racial discrimination. The rejection on the school bus in the morning and the classroom provoked aggression and hyperreaction. The racial discrimination and environmental factors aggravated CD symptoms, prompting a misdiagnosis of ADHD as CD. The Indian-American boy was bullied by White peers. His teachers complicated the case by providing inaccurate information about the boy’s behaviour. This information misled the diagnosis and, hence, treatment. The DSM-V diagnostic model was used to diagnose the boy’s condition. The bullied Indian-American boy responded to the environmental stimuli through hyperactivity, and aggression by bringing a toy gun to school. He pointed the gun at the tormentor as a response to the stimuli, replicating the environmental influence on his actions. Even though inaccurate, this would be the teacher’s basis of narratives about the boy’s behaviour. In response, peer group therapy and amphetamine were indicated to the boy as treatments against CD. This case underscores the importance of a thorough psychiatric evaluation that considers environmental and psychosocial factors, especially in culturally and racially diverse populations. The Indian-American boy underwent peer group therapy to enhance problem resolution and amphetamine treatment to alleviate psychosocial problems. By mocking his tormentors, his teacher thought that the boy was in full-blown conduct disorder. Racial discrimination and bullying on the bus significantly exacerbated his actions, which led to the misdiagnosis. Based on the teacher’s misinformation and other factors, the boy’s ADHD was confused for CD.