Journal-based CME Course: Mapping Clinical Diagnoses Associated With Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence in Mental Health Research – A Scoping Review

Activity ID

15148

Expires

September 16, 2029

Format Type

Journal-based

CME Credit

1

Fee

$30

CME Provider: JAMA Psychiatry

Description of CME Course

Importance  The terms neurodivergence and neurodiversity are increasingly used across mental health and broader clinical literature, as well as in clinical practice, clinical service commissioning, and policy contexts, despite their lack of clinical and diagnostic specificity.

Objective  To quantitively map clinical diagnoses associated with the terms neurodivergence and neurodiversity in the empirical mental health literature through a scoping review conducted with experts with lived experience .

Evidence Review  Following JBI methods and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched up to August 1, 2025, and identified 134 studies including 151 134 participants that recruited participants defined as neurodivergent or neurodiverse.

Findings  Participants were primarily identified through self-reported diagnoses (n = 56 [41.8%]) or self-identification (n = 50 [37.3%]). A heterogeneous range of diagnoses was associated with neurodivergence and neurodiversity, most commonly autism (n = 92 [68.7%]), followed by ADHD (n = 86 [64.2%]), dyslexia (n = 44 [32.8%]), dyspraxia (n = 21 [15.7%]), anxiety disorder (n = 20 [14.9%]), and dyscalculia (n = 17 [12.7%]). Notably, 29 studies (21.6%) did not specify any clinical diagnoses.

Conclusions and relevance  While neurodivergence and neurodiversity are valuable for capturing lived experience, their lack of specificity may introduce substantial heterogeneity in research focused on clinical categories. These findings suggest prioritizing precise diagnostic descriptors in clinical practice and research involving clinically defined conditions, while reserving neurodivergent for studies and contexts focused on self-identification and identity.

Disclaimers

1. This activity is accredited by the American Medical Association.
2. This activity is free to AMA members.

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