ADHD in women - a review (original) (raw)
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ADHD Symptoms in Females of Childhood, Adolescent, Reproductive and Menopause Period
Materia Socio Medica, 2021
Background: The attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was initially considered a male disorder. As it has recently been shown, however, its presentation in girls is a topic of increasing scientific interest and research. There have been quite a few studies so far showing the differences in the symptoms between genders and the progression of the condition depending on the individual's profile. However, there are some special characteristics in the female gender, including neuropathology and hormonal factors, that play a decisive role in understating ADHD in women. Although it is known that the symptoms in ADHD girls are overshadowed by those of the impulsive and hyperactive boys, an effort was made in this study to highlight ADHD symptoms in women from childhood to menopause. Objective: Taking into account the small but significant differences in the development of ADHD in women, this literature review aims at identifying the special characteristics of ADHD symptoms in all stages of a woman's life from childhood to menopause. Being aware of these signs is important to provide the best quality of health care in ADHD women. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted through the databases on the occurrence of ADHD symptoms in girls, adolescents, women of childbearing age and women in menopause. Results: ADHD and its comorbid disorders affect the female sex throughout its life. The hormonal fluctuations and transitional periods of life seem to influence the symptoms of ADHD more. Conclusion: Higher awareness is thus required by health professionals about ADHD behavioural characteristics in girls, adolescent girls and women in their productive period or in menopause to identify the special signs defining the disease, to treat them early and protect the women's mental health.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Clinical Considerations for Women
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 2017
The history of psychiatry is the history of therapeutic enthusiasm with all of the triumph and tragedy, hubris and humility that this brings. As a result, the emergence of any new diagnosis, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), needs to be greeted with caution, rigour and scientific objectivity, as well as compassion, therapeutic engagement and optimism. Although there is now little doubt that ADHD is a valid, useful diagnostic concept, and progress has been made, there is still considerable work to be done to establish its incidence, prevalence and biological underpinnings, as well as optimal therapeutic strategies. As with all mental illnesses, it is likely that knowledge will develop over many decades and diagnostic criteria will be refined in parallel. In the absence of definitive biological understanding, there should be particular caution about over-exuberant diagnostic expansionism unless it is accompanied by compelling evidence of therapeutic benefit for those diagnosed.
BMC Psychiatry, 2020
BackgroundThere is evidence to suggest that the broad discrepancy in the ratio of males to females with diagnosed ADHD is due, at least in part, to lack of recognition and/or referral bias in females. Studies suggest that females with ADHD present with differences in their profile of symptoms, comorbidity and associated functioning compared with males. This consensus aims to provide a better understanding of females with ADHD in order to improve recognition and referral. Comprehensive assessment and appropriate treatment is hoped to enhance longer-term clinical outcomes and patient wellbeing for females with ADHD.MethodsThe United Kingdom ADHD Partnership hosted a meeting of experts to discuss symptom presentation, triggers for referral, assessment, treatment and multi-agency liaison for females with ADHD across the lifespan.ResultsA consensus was reached offering practical guidance to support medical and mental health practitioners working with females with ADHD. The potential chal...
Sex Differences in the Manifestation of ADHD in Emerging Adults
Journal of Attention Disorders, 2012
Objective: Given the mixed literature in the area, the aim of the current study was to determine whether sex differences exist in inattention, hyperactivity, and impairment in college adults with ADHD. Method: Individuals from three universities were recruited for the study. Participants with (n = 164) and without ADHD (n = 710) completed on-line measures of symptoms and impairment. Results: College women with ADHD were shown to have higher rates of inattention, hyperactivity, and impairment than college women without ADHD and college men with ADHD. Analyses revealed that women in college who have ADHD experience higher levels of impairment in the following domains: home life, social life, education, money management, and daily life activities. Conclusion: Overall, clear differences emerged between men and women with ADHD. Implications and future directions are discussed. (J. of Att. Dis. 2012; 16 Bios David A. Fedele, MS, is a doctoral candidate at Oklahoma State University. Within the area of ADHD, he has taken specific interest in conducting research to identify patterns of impairment and improve the identification of emerging adults with ADHD.
The gender differences in ADHD
The Gender Differences in ADHD Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the children's most known neurodevelopmental disorders. ADHD is usually diagnosed in children but can last into adulthood and dramatically affects the quality of life. ADHD contains a combination of several health issues that include impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, difficulty sustaining attention, low self-esteem, poor performance in school, and troubled relationships (Mayo Clinic). The data
Women with Childhood ADHD: Comparisons by Diagnostic Group and Gender
2011
This study compared adult women with childhood ADHD to adult women without childhood ADHD and to adult men with childhood ADHD. The participants, all from a larger longitudinal study, included 30 women and 30 men (approximately age 23 to 24) with childhood ADHD, and 27 women without ADHD. Women with childhood ADHD were matched to comparison women on age, ethnicity, and parental education, and to men with childhood ADHD on age, ethnicity, and IQ. Self-and parent-reports of internalizing, interpersonal, academic, and job impairment, as well as substance use and delinquency indicated group differences on measures of self-esteem,
Sex differences in ADHD symptom severity
Background: Males show higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than do females. Potential explanations include genuine etiological differences or artifact. Methods: 2,332 twin and sibling youth participated in behavioral and cognitive testing. Partially competing models of symptom severity distribution differences, the mean difference, and variance difference models, were tested within a randomly selected subsample. The Delta method was used to test for mediation of sex differences in ADHD symptom severity by processing speed, inhibition and working memory. Results: The combined mean difference and variance difference models fully explained the sex difference in ADHD symptom severity. Cognitive endophenotypes mediated 14% of the sex difference effect. Conclusions: The sex difference in ADHD symptom severity is valid and may be due to differing genetic and cognitive liabilities between the sexes.
ADHD and its relationship to comorbidity and gender [PhD Thesis]
2006
In spite of decades of research, the causes of ADHD are still unknown. Twin, adoption, and molecular genetic studies have shown it to be highly heritable, and evidence from animal and human studies implicates the dysregulation of frontal-subcortical-cerebellar catecholaminergic circuits in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Several neuropsychological theories of ADHD have been proposed. One of the most prominent suggests that its symptoms arise from a primary deficit in executive functions (EFs), defined as Introduction 1 1
ADHD and its relationship to comorbidity and gender
2006
In spite of decades of research, the causes of ADHD are still unknown. Twin, adoption, and molecular genetic studies have shown it to be highly heritable, and evidence from animal and human studies implicates the dysregulation of frontal-subcortical-cerebellar catecholaminergic circuits in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Several neuropsychological theories of ADHD have been proposed. One of the most prominent suggests that its symptoms arise from a primary deficit in executive functions (EFs), defined as Introduction 1 1
The impact of sex and subtypes on cognitive and psychosocial aspects of ADHD
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2006
We compared the effect of sex and attention-deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtyping in groups of females and males. One hundred and one females with ADHD (mean age 10y 4mo [SD 2y 8mo]; range 5y-18y) were classified according to subtype by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) criteria (inattentive [ADHD-I]; combined [ADHD-C]) and balanced by subtype to 101 males (mean age 10y 5mo [SD 2y 9mo]; range 5y 4mo-17y 6mo). All children underwent IQ and reading assessment, and 109 underwent the continuous performance task (Test Of Variables of Attention [TOVA]). Parents completed the Conners' Abbreviated Rating Scale (ABRS), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), learning disability* questionnaires, and reported use and efficacy of methylphenidate. Teachers completed the Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham (SKAMP) rating scale. Sex differences were found only on the CBCL; females were more impaired on the attention (p<0.001) and somatization (p=0.028) subscales but not for IQ, other questionnaires, TOVA scores, methylphenidate treatment, or demographics. Females with ADHD-C, but not males, had significantly higher T-scores than females with ADHD-I on social, attention, delinquent, and aggressive behaviours. Regardless of sex, children with ADHD-C had higher scores on all CBCL subscales (p=0.047), ABRS (p<0.001), and SKAMP (p=0.03) than children with ADHD-I. The results support the supposition that ADHD in females is the same disorder as in males. ADHD subtyping was the important determinant of ADHD core symptoms; females with ADHD were found to have significant risk of psychopathology.