ADHD is a popular self-diagnosis on TikTok, but mental health patients don’t always prioritize accuracy

If you have trouble sitting still, paying attention, or organizing your executive functions, TikTok may tell you that you have ADHD — but is that diagnosis correct? According to a new study, there are serious doubts about the accuracy of the ADHD information dispensed through social media.

A research team led by Vasileia Karasavva of the University of British Columbia conducted a pair of studies to evaluate the truthfulness of content found through #ADHDTikTok and related hashtags. The first of those inquiries, in which mental health professionals offered their evaluations of ADHD videos, produced damning results. The professionals reported that fewer than 50% of TikToker claims about ADHD symptoms aligned with the criteria found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

The second study added some input from TikTok viewers, but the results were still discouraging. The participants who watched the most #ADHDTikTok were more likely to recommend the five most accurate videos in the study (as ranked by the professionals), but they were also more likely to recommend the five most inaccurate clips as well.

The research team proposed a few different factors that could explain that phenomenon. Some TikTokers have trouble accessing academic research, which leads them to prioritize personal narratives. Creators who rely on frequent TikTok uploads to make money may not have the time to full research ADHD diagnostics before posting. The so-called “echo chamber effect” also exacerbates viewers’ tendencies toward confirmation bias.

“Easily digestible, short, and snappy videos created to grab users’ attention quickly may make it challenging to prioritize nuance,” reads a writeup of the studies. “Crucially, the TikTok algorithm, ultimately, aims to extend the time users spend on the platform. To do so, TikTok leverages engagement cues such as viewing time, likes, comments, saves, and shares from previous visits to the platform to ensure the videos served to the user cater to their taste, in a process that can go largely unnoticed by users.”

After TikTok-based self-diagnoses of ADHD spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers began evaluating that trend to determine whether it was a net positive or negative for neurodivergent individuals. A 2024 analysis found that 92% of videos tagged #ADHDTest contained misleading information.

Questionable videos related to ADHD are part of a broader concern related to the amount of medical misinformation on platforms like TikTok. Videos about “steroid-like drugs,” for example, have also included inaccurate statements.

TikTok has rolled out multiple measures to combat misinformation, but the researchers behind the ADHD study suggested that medical professionals can be part of that fight, too. TikTok can be a powerful tool for “democratizing mental health information,” but only if self-diagnosed patients and their doctors see eye-to-eye.

“It may be important for professionals to listen to patients’ experiences with ADHD information on social media and to hear about what patients have found valuable in this information,” reads the writeup. “At the same time, mental health professionals can attempt to conduct a thorough assessment that includes history and multiple informants, that balances anecdotal experience whenever possible.”

For individuals who insist on sourcing medical opinions through TikTok, some accounts offer accurate information. Creators like Jessica McCabe are helping viewers take control of their mental health, and they’re doing it without setting off too many B.S. alarms.