Grey’s Anatomy, now in it’s 21st season, reigns as a favorite television series for so many people. One of the indisputable strengths of this show is its incredible range of diverse characters, including several who are neurodivergent.

I’ve always appreciated how Grey’s unapologetically portrays mental health and neurodiversity. My all-time favorite character from this show is neurodivergent, and there’s a good chance that yours is too. I was surprised and delighted by just how many there are when I started counting. See if your favorite made the list!

Note: I’m certain I’m forgetting someone, but I’ve done my best to include all of the doctors/main characters. (This list would be HUGE if I also included patients!) I won’t be taking the time to lay out all the reasons why I think these characters are neurodivergent, like I have done in the past with Anne, Mr. Darcy, and Lizzie, for three reasons:

  1. That topic could fill an entire book, not just a blog post!
  2. To avoid spoilers.
  3. Because these characters are all confirmed. The show dedicates storylines and character arcs to these characters’ brain differences. There’s no speculation here. It’s canon.

13 Neurodiverse Characters from Grey’s Anatomy

#1 Cristina Yang
Dyslexia
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Also, in one episode, it is suggested that she may be autistic, but this idea is never explored or brought up again.

#2 Lexie Grey
Eidetic Memory

#3 Miranda Bailey
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

#4. Virginia Dixon
Asperger’s Syndrome
(Asperger’s is a defunct diagnosis that is now considered part of the Autism Spectrum)

#5 Owen Hunt
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
C-PTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Note: The word “C-PTSD” is not used, (it is still a relatively new term), but it is shown. The word “trauma” is used, and there is an episode that explores his childhood traumas which are unrelated to his military service. This episode shows him undergoing somatic therapy which is often used by individuals with C-PTSD.

#6. Teddy Altman
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

#7. Margaret “Maggie” Pierce
Giftedness
(An unusually high IQ or academic ability, often in the area of STEM. Sometimes referred to as a “prodigy”)

#8. Jo Wilson
C-PTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Note: The word “C-PTSD” is not used, (it is still a relatively new term), but it is shown. The word “trauma” is used, and she is shown participating in EMDR therapy, which is a type of therapy commonly used for C-PTSD.

#9 Megan Hunt
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

#10 Andrew DeLuca
Bipolar Disorder

#11 Zola Grey-Shepherd
Giftedness
(An unusually high IQ or academic ability, often in the area of STEM. Sometimes referred to as a “prodigy”)

#12 Lucas Adams
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

#13 Nick Marsh
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Bonus Round:

Three additional characters that have not been officially revealed as neurodiverse, but fans generally accept as such

#14 Amelia Shepherd
Amelia is an honorary ADHD. There are countess signs, including that it runs in her family. I hope the show reveals her as ADHD in the future, as it would bring attention to the ways that it can present in women. (Currently, the only other ADHD characters are men.)

#15 Kai Bartley
Many fans speculate that Dr. Kai Bartley is on the Autism Spectrum, or similarly neurodivergent.

#16 Meredith Grey
Our title character herself is also an honorary neurodivergent in many fan’s minds. The show has always stopped just short of saying that she has PTSD, but she is frequently shown experiencing flashbacks and other trauma responses. And really–with everything that Grey’s has thrown at her over 21 Seasons–she has every right to be more than a little traumatized!

Did your favorite character make the list? The more I learn about neurodiversity, the more I realize that all the best, brightest, and most creative people–real and fictional–are the ones who break the mold of “normal.” This is something to be embraced and celebrated!

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