Diagnostic Overshadowing in a Pediatric Population with Attention Deficit Disorder / Hyperactivity: Illustrated by a Case Study

Diagnostic overshadowing occurs due to clinician bias, which is influenced by the salience of more obvious patient characteristics, leading to overlooked diagnoses. The complexity of diagnosing Attention Deficit Disorder / Hyperactivity arises from the potential overlap or association of ADHD symptoms with various medical, neurodevelopmental, and psychosocial issues. We shared a case report derived from our clinical experience and we will analyze the diagnostic overshadowing in children with ADHD using a psychopathological approach. Achieving accurate diagnoses for childhood mental health disorders is essential, as misdiagnosis has been linked to detrimental impacts on children's functioning.