Who benefits from diagnostic labels for developmental disorders?
Sander Werkhoven, Joel H Anderson, Ingrid A M Robeyns
PMID 35191027WHAT IT FOUND
Diagnostic labels for ADHD and autism help patients understand their struggles and access services, but can also cause stigma and self-fulfilling expectations.
Clinicians should weigh these benefits against harms for each patient rather than assuming labels are purely helpful or harmful.
Key findings
01Labels help patients and caregivers understand difficulties, reduce self-blame, and guide treatment, but can lead to stigma, identity issues, and disappointment if causes are oversimplified.
02In administrative systems, labels determine access to care and support, creating incentives for diagnosis and risks of underdiagnosis for those who do not meet criteria.
03There is no clear consensus on whether to keep, revise, or abolish current diagnostic labels, as different stakeholders have conflicting needs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a theoretical review, not an empirical study, so it does not provide new data on outcomes. The analysis focuses specifically on ADHD and ASD, so conclusions may not apply to other developmental disorders. The review discusses general trends in labeling effects, but individual patient responses to diagnosis vary widely. The paper does not offer specific guidelines for when to use or avoid labels in clinical practice.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The work was supported by non-US government funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this review as evidence that diagnostic labels are harmful or should be abandoned. The authors conclude that the effects of labels are mixed and context-dependent, with significant benefits for access to care and self-understanding alongside potential risks of stigma and oversimplification.