Challenges in Diagnosing Women with ADHD
Until recently, adult ADHD was a silent disorder in women that was routinely ignored or misdiagnosed by the educational and medical community. To address the millions of girls and women suffering in silence, the National Center for Girls and Women with AD/HD was founded in 1997 to promote awareness and research on ADHD in women.
Unfortunately, according to the organization, current diagnostic criteria continue to emphasize traits common to boys and leave the majority of girls and women out of the equation. Even when a woman believes she has adult ADHD, very few clinicians are equipped or have the experience or background to diagnose and treat her.
Because there are no specific criteria for treating women, most medical experts continue to rely on standard psychotherapeutic approaches that may provide women with helpful insights into their emotional and personal issues, but often fail to give them the tools and strategies they need to manage the condition on a daily basis and lead a more productive life.
Because so few studies have been conducted on women and ADHD, and women have only recently begun to be diagnosed and treated, most of what we know is based on the clinical experience of mental health professionals who have specialized in treating women. While research on women with adult ADHD still lags behind that of adult males, medical experts are beginning to discover some major differences in their coexisting conditions and symptoms.
Coexisting Conditions and Symptoms of Women
Depression, anxiety, low self-image, compulsive eating, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, and chronic sleep deprivation are just a few of many comorbid conditions that may be present in women with ADHD. While women with ADHD experience the same rates of depression and anxiety disorders as men with ADHD, studies show women also tend to have a higher degree of psychological distress and a lower self-image than men with ADHD.
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Unlike men, women with adult ADHD tend to attribute their successes and failure to outside factors like fate, luck, and chance rather than to personal factors like effort, drive, and talent. Women are also more likely to use coping measures to reduce or manage ADHD-related stress than to take direct action to alleviate it.
Women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood also have more depressive symptoms and are more stressed out and anxious than women without the disorder. New studies also show that stress levels may be higher for women suffering from adult ADHD than men, because women tend to feel more responsibility for the home, children, and family. They also suffer more chronic stress, and are at an increased risk for diseases related to stress, including migraines, cancer, and fibromyalgia.
Medication Management and Women
Prescribing the right medication in the right dosage is another challenge facing experts who treat women with ADHD. Because adult ADHD symptoms tend to flare when estrogen levels decline, the natural fluctuation of hormones within the menstrual cycle, in pregnant and postpartum women, and in menopausal women can exacerbate symptoms.
