I was invited to assist with background information on ADHD in women and offered my insights on the gender differences when dealing with ADHD. I invite you to read the article and celebrate the increased attention to the gender differences of ADHD.

ADHD in women is now an ongoing topic of research and discussion since it has been recognized as occurring more often than previously realized. Those disruptive boys sure got the teachers attention but the quiet girls in the classroom were overlooked. Now, as adults, the women with ADHD find great difficulties and challenges in their lives. The negative consequences are problematic and constrict success in occupational pursuits and relationship satisfaction.

The Catherine Pearson of the Huffington Post picked up on the recent Canadian study of ADHD women and its report that “women with ADHD had triple the prevalence of insomnia, chronic pain, suicidal ideation, childhood sexual abuse and generalized anxiety disorder and double the prevalence of substance abuse, current smoking, depressive disorders, severe poverty and childhood physical abuse in comparison with women without ADHD”.  This is direct quote from the results section of this study of over 100 ADHD women.

Therefore, when evaluating women with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, please look for ADHD and vis a versa. Many clinicians will focus on the primary complaint of the patient without a more comprehensive evaluation of all possibly co-existing psychiatric disorders. Unless patients rise the consideration for ADHD, it is often overlooked. If, after reading articles on ADHD and identifying with these experiences your whole life, raise it with your doctor and/or therapist.

Our website has many professional articles and videos on ADHD to get you started.

I continue to thank those of you interested in my insights and advocacy for ADHD.

David W. Goodman, M.D.