Cited by 2Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchDevelopmental and Educational Neuropsychology

A Narrative Review of Outcomes, Comorbidities, and Alternative Behavioral Interventions in Adolescent and Adult Women with ADHD

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Baby, Miranda, Priya, Vijayan, Pallavi, Janardhan, Karthik Chand, Basude, Srinivasan, Laxmikarthika, Rana, Sandeep, Tawil, Samah, Haque, Shafiul +5 more·2025·International Journal of Women's Health

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition that persists into late adolescence and even adulthood. While a lot of research has addressed the issues of childhood ADHD, manifestation of the condition in adults, particularly females, remains largely obscure. The aim of the present narrative review is to address the sex-specific subtleties of ADHD in adolescent and adult female populations and critically analyze the various intricately complex facets of the associated comorbidities and outcomes, based upon data extracted from scholarly works indexed in online databases (eg, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc). We provide evidences refuting the presumption that ADHD primarily affects men, highlighting the complexity of clinical outcomes and comorbidities, and the consequent misdiagnosis of women as a possible reason. Comprehensive critical assessment of the multiple aspects of psycho-socio-behavioral, cognitive, and other clinical outcomes and comorbidities associated with ADHD in women indicated widespread dysfunctions and atypical characteristics. Furthermore, we also propose the probable utilities of art-based and other unconventional behavioral therapeutic regimens as alternatives and/or additives for the therapy of female ADHD cases to address case- and gender-specific needs and induce an overall improvement in their functioning. While this is not an exhaustive review of the literature, we hope that our points of discussion will generate further interest among scientists, clinicians, and caregivers to address the age and gender specificity of the condition to advance our perspectives of the condition and eventually establish novel therapeutic measures for the same.

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Crossref · 10.2147/ijwh.s511297

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  • Personality disorders, particularly borderline and antisocial, frequently co-occur with ADHD, with estimates suggesting up to 16-38% prevalence.

    “Personality disorders, particularly borderline and antisocial, frequently co-occur, with estimates suggesting up to 16–38% prevalence [107,111].”

    From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [111]

    The Borderline Personality Disorder section reports 16–38% comorbidity with borderline personality disorder in adults with ADHD. The Chemical Addiction, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Smoking section also mentions antisocial personality disorder, but only as a possible outcome when ADHD and SUD co-occur; it does not apply the 16–38% estimate to antisocial personality disorder. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. [14]Olagunju AE, Ghoddusi F. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2024; 110(2): 157– 166. 39172673
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Authors
Baby, M., Priya, V., Pallavi, J., Karthik Chand, B., Srinivasan, L., Rana, S., Tawil, S., Haque, S., Ghosh, P., Bhattacharya, P., Khan, M., Perwez, S., & Ahmad, F.
Affiliations
  • Vellore Institute of Technology University (IN)
  • Institut National de Santé Publique, d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (LB)
  • Universidad Espíritu Santo (EC)
Corresponding author
  • Perwez, Syed
  • Ahmad, Faraz
Venue
International Journal of Women's Health
Published
2025-09
Volume
Volume 17
Pages
3201-3228
ISSN
1179-1411 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4414479239
Cited by
2
References
315
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1
FWCI
0.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Women s Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Keywords
adult ADHD, adolescent women, sex differences, comorbidities, clinical outcomes, misdiagnosis, arts-based therapy, behavioral interventions, gender-specific treatment

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