The power of words: respectful language in ADHD research

French, Blandine, Dekkers, Tycho, Barclay, Isabella, Black, Melissa, Bolte, Sven, Daley, David, Ernst, Julia, Groom, Madeleine, Van Hulst, Branko, de Jong, Maxime, Kaiser, Anna, Kerner Auch Koener, Julia, Kuntsi, Jonna, Michelini, Giorgia, Price, Anna, Purper - Ouakil, Diane, Rijmen, Joske, Wiersema, Jan, Wynchank, Dora and Martin, Joanna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8911-3479 2025. The power of words: respectful language in ADHD research. The Lancet Psychiatry 10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00167-1 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Language is powerful. It reflects and shapes our understanding of the difficulties people face, the paradigms in which researchers and clinicians conduct research and practice while also influencing public perceptions and the expectations of people with lived experiences. Here, we aim to start a constructive dialogue around language use (ie, language that is respectful, not stigmatising, or discriminatory) related to ADHD, to encourage researchers, clinicians, and others to consider the potential impact of their words. A greater awareness of the impact of language and a much-needed shift towards more compassionate and respectful language can positively affect individuals with ADHD, clinical practice, and research, by fostering a more accurate and nuanced understanding of ADHD and associated needs of people with ADHD.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2215-0366
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 June 2025
Date of Acceptance:	23 May 2025
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2025 11:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178554

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