Women and attention deficit disorders: A great burden overlooked
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to gender-based differences in symptom expression with particular emphasis on disparities concerning women, psychiatric comorbidities that affect assessment and detection, and evidenced-based treatment approaches for nurse practitioners (NPs). DATA SOURCES: Health sciences literature was reviewed using the following data-bases: Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Proquest, Psych Info, Wiley Interscience, Cambridge Press, Science Direct, and Thomson Gale. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing adult ADHD may be challenging; however, with increased understanding regarding the subtle variations in symptoms, use of screening instruments, and careful assessment techniques, NPs will be better able to recognize the characteristics of ADHD that are important to early detection, proper diagnosis, and effective treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Additional research and improved clinician education may facilitate early detection and treatment of ADHD among adults of all ages and ethnic/racial backgrounds.
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ADHD in women, its characteristics, and its development across the lifespan remain insufficiently studied.
“Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in women, its characteristics, and its development across the lifespan remain insufficiently studied [1,2,3].”
From A Female-Specific Treatment Group for ADHD—Description of the Programme and Qualitative Analysis of First Experiences (2024) · cites this paper as [2]
The participant base for this study was largely female, but the authors considered it justified in relation to both the small sample size and the largely male focus of most previous work on ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence.
“The participant base for this study was largely female, however the authors considered it justified in relation to both the small sample size of this work and the largely male focus of most previous work on ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence [34, 36, 44, 87].”
From Burnout by Design: How Digital Systems Overburden Neurodivergent Students in Higher Education (2025) · cites this paper as [87]
Females with ADHD are more likely to have internalizing symptoms, resulting in a later diagnosis, and greater time for developing strategies to mask core symptoms.
“Conversely, females with ADHD are more likely to have internalizing symptoms, resulting in a later diagnosis, and greater time for developing strategies to mask core symptoms [20].”
From Adult ADHD and comorbid disorders: clinical implications of a dimensional approach (2017) · cites this paper as [20]
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“The participant base for this study was largely female, however the authors considered it justified in relation to both the small sample size of this work and the largely male focus of most previous work on ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence [34, 36, 44, 87].”
- Authors
- Waite, R.
- Affiliations
- Drexel University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Waite, Roberta
- ORCID
- Waite, Roberta
- Venue
- Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-03
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 116-125
- ISSN
- 1041-2972 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-7599
- OpenAlex
- W2054395951
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Pennsylvania
- National Institute of Nursing Research (5-T32NR07100, T32NR007100)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Keywords
- adult ADHD, ADHD in women, psychiatric comorbidity, ADHD screening, ADHD diagnosis, ADHD treatment, nurse practitioners, clinician education
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Mental Disorders, Combined Modality Therapy, Diagnostic Errors, Female, Humans, Mass Screening, Nurse Practitioners, Nursing Assessment, Primary Health Care, Referral and Consultation, Sex Characteristics, Women, Comorbidity, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cost of Illness, Sex Distribution, Evidence-Based Medicine, Nurse's Role, Early Diagnosis
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