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Psychiatric diagnoses as semiotic mediators: The case of ADHD

Psychiatric diagnoses as semiotic mediators: The case of ADHD In cultural psychology, semiotic mediation refers to persons' use of signs to regulate thoughts, acts, and emotions. Drawing on an ongoing fieldwork in a support group for adults diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this paper highlights three specific functions that psychiatric diagnoses can have as semiotic mediators in the lives of the diagnosed: (1) an explanatory function in relation to experienced problems (even if a diagnosis is a description of symptoms, it is often used to explain these very symptoms), (2) a self-affirming function (in the sense that a diagnosis provides a framework according to which numerous phenomena appear as “symptoms”), and (3) a disclaiming function in relation to responsibility (with the possibility of medicalizing aspects of moral life). The legitimacy of each can be discussed, which in itself might add to the distress experienced by adults categorized by a contested diagnosis such as ADHD. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nordic Psychology Taylor & Francis

Psychiatric diagnoses as semiotic mediators: The case of ADHD

Nordic Psychology , Volume 66 (2): 14 – Apr 3, 2014
14 pages

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References (39)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2014 The Editors of Nordic Psychology
ISSN
1904-0016
eISSN
1901-2276
DOI
10.1080/19012276.2014.926227
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In cultural psychology, semiotic mediation refers to persons' use of signs to regulate thoughts, acts, and emotions. Drawing on an ongoing fieldwork in a support group for adults diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this paper highlights three specific functions that psychiatric diagnoses can have as semiotic mediators in the lives of the diagnosed: (1) an explanatory function in relation to experienced problems (even if a diagnosis is a description of symptoms, it is often used to explain these very symptoms), (2) a self-affirming function (in the sense that a diagnosis provides a framework according to which numerous phenomena appear as “symptoms”), and (3) a disclaiming function in relation to responsibility (with the possibility of medicalizing aspects of moral life). The legitimacy of each can be discussed, which in itself might add to the distress experienced by adults categorized by a contested diagnosis such as ADHD.

Journal

Nordic PsychologyTaylor & Francis

Published: Apr 3, 2014

Keywords: ADHD; qualitative inquiry; cultural psychology; semiotic mediation; entification

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