Brzezińska, A., Borowiecka, M., Zając, M., Warchoł, K., & Michniak, W. (2021). ADHD in women – A review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 11(9), 491–496. Web.
The article by Brzezińska and colleagues aims to explore the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of ADHD in women. The author’s main thesis is to highlight the underdiagnosis and under-treatment of ADHD in women and to explore potential reasons for this phenomenon. In terms of the methods used, the authors conducted a review of existing literature on ADHD in women. Publications that looked at the incidence, evaluation, and treatment of ADHD in adult women were included after extensive database searches.
Women of diverse ages and races from different nations made up the sample population. The variables measured included ADHD prevalence rates in women, diagnostic criteria, comorbidities, and treatment outcomes. The authors used a narrative synthesis approach to synthesize the data collected from the studies.
The authors discovered that ADHD among females is frequently underdiagnosed and neglected for a variety of reasons, notably stigma and variations in symptom manifestation. Less hyperactivity and increased inattention, as well as internalizing symptoms, are common in women with ADHD, which could be contributing to the underdiagnosis. In addition, prejudices based on gender and the stigma associated with ADHD can result in women receiving incorrect diagnoses for other mental health illnesses or being completely disregarded.
The authors’ hypotheses were supported by the literature review. Overall, the authors’ results have important implications for the diagnosis and care of female ADHD.Mental health professionals need to be aware of the gender differences in ADHD symptom presentation and address any gender biases and stigma surrounding the disorder. I agree with the author’s findings and believe that their publication emphasizes the demand for more study and knowledge of ADHD in women.
Gutman, S., Balasubramanian, S., Herzog, M., Kim, E., Swirnow, H., Retig, Y., & Wolff, S. (2020). Effectiveness of a tailored intervention for women withADHD and ADHD symptoms: A randomized controlled study. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(1), 1-11. Web.
The effectiveness of a personalized intervention for women with ADHD and the condition’s symptoms is covered in the study by Gutman and colleagues. The authors provide a thesis demonstrating the efficacy of a specifically designed treatment for women with ADHD. The study was a randomized controlled study with 23 female participants between the ages of 20 and 55.Participants were recruited through flyers posted at a university, online postings, and referrals from healthcare providers.
The variables measured were ADHD symptoms, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. These variables were measured using self-report questionnaires. The tailored intervention was a 7-week program consisting of psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
The results of the study showed that the tailored intervention was effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms. Those interviewed reported improvements in their quality of lifeas well as their sense of self.The results of the study offered support for the thesis. According to the study’s results, women who have ADHD and its symptoms may benefit from a customized intervention that lessens their anxiety, despair, and ADHD symptoms.
The study underscores the significance of attending to the particular requirements of women with ADHD and offers evidence for the efficacy of a customized strategy. The study’s findings lend credibility to the authors’ conclusions. The study provides informative data regarding the effectiveness of a specialized intervention for women with ADHD and associated symptoms overall. The study’s conclusions have significant clinical implications and emphasize the necessity for tailored care that considers the particular requirements of women with ADHD.
Quinn, P. O. (2005). Treating adolescent girls and women with ADHD: Gender-specific issues. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(5), 579–587. Web.
The authors aim to identify the differences in the manifestation of ADHD symptoms, the effect of hormonal changes on ADHD symptoms, and the impact of gender on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. The article’s thesis is to examine the gender-specific problems that women and teenage girls with ADHD experience. The authors searched the literature for relevant articles that addressed the challenges that young girls and women face in identifying and treating ADHD.
The reviewed studies’ publication dates range from 1990 to 2002. Moreover, the sample of the research included a case illustration involving a 23-year-old participant named Sarah. The authors measured several variables, including the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms and the impact of hormonal changes on ADHD symptoms over two months.
The researchers discovered that female adolescents and adults with ADHD frequently struggle with challenges that are unique to their gender. For instance, compared to males with ADHD, females are more prone to experience despair, anxiety, low self-esteem, and interpersonal issues. The study’s authors also discovered that hormonal fluctuations, including those that occur throughout the menstrual cycle, can significantly affect the symptoms of the condition. Depending on the person, hormonal fluctuations can either make ADHD symptoms harder to control or more tolerable.
The results of the research cited in the literature review supported the suggested hypotheses. The authors conclude that while diagnosing and treating this population, it is important to consider the gender-specific challenges female adults and adolescents with ADHD confront. Their findings have important implications since they imply that teenage girls and women with such a condition may not be eligible for the existing diagnostic criteria as well as therapy regimens for ADHD.
Martin, J., Taylor, M. J., Rydell, M., Riglin, L., Eyre, O., Lu, Y., Lundström, S., Larsson, H., Thapar, A., & Lichtenstein, P. (2018). Sex-specific manifestation of genetic risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the general population.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines,59(8), 908–916. Web.
The article aims to investigate the sex-specific genetic risk for ADHD in the general population. The thesis of the study is based on the prevalence of differences in terms of ADHD symptom manifestation between the two genders. The authors conducted a genome-wide association study, and the sample consisted of 13,472 individuals with ages ranging from 9 to 24 years old. To determine the genetic risk for ADHD, the scientists used questionnaires to quantify symptoms and polygenic risk score analyses.
The researchers discovered that women had a greater genetic risk of ADHD than men. This study’s genetic findings suggest that women may have a genetic predisposition to sadness or anxiety that is greater compared to that of men, which may assist in explaining why female patients have a smaller percentage of diagnosed ADHD. According to this study, further rigorous screening for ADHD may be beneficial for females exhibiting clinical signs of depression or anxiety, especially if there is a family history of the disorder.
The results of this study have significant effects on how ADHD is diagnosed and treated. The authors advise doctors to take sex-specific genetic risk into account when evaluating the symptoms and providing a diagnosis. They also recommend that future studies look at the fundamental causes of this sex-specific genetic risk.
Overall, this study offers insightful information on the intricate genetic mechanisms causing ADHD and emphasizes the significance of taking into account sex-specific variations in how the condition manifests. I concur with the authors’ assertion that sex-specific characteristics must be taken into account. It is crucial to remember that environmental effects, for instance, also have a big impact on how ADHD develops.
Winter, H., Moncrieff, J., & Speed, E. (2015). “Because you’re worth it”: A discourse analysis of the gendered rhetoric of the ADHD Woman. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 12(4), 415–434. Web.
The article aims to analyze the gendered rhetoric surrounding ADHD in women. The authors examine the portrayal of ADHD in women in the media and how it shapes the perception of ADHD in women. The main thesis of the study is that the media demonstrates how women are being given ADHD as a description of their underperformance. In the current study, researchers employed discourse analysis to examine the significance of five YouTube videos regarding women with ADHD. Throughout the census period of September 2011 to July 2012, the authors made inquiries using the phrase “ADHD Women,“ performing the procedure seven times.
According to the authors, stereotypes and gender bias are used to represent women with ADHD in the media. The articles tended to focus on the emotional and social difficulties faced by women with ADHD rather than the cognitive and behavioral symptoms. The authors also discovered that, instead of portraying ADHD in women as a neurological illness, the media characterized it as a psychological failing.
The media’s stereotypical and gendered representation of women with ADHD has important ramifications, according to the authors. The way that women with ADHD are portrayed in the media can result in incorrect diagnoses and inadequate treatment. The authors contend that the gendered discourse around ADHD in women and its potential effects on diagnosis and treatment should be taken into consideration by the medical community. I concur with the author’s findings and think it is crucial to address gendered misconceptions about women’s ADHD to make sure that women receive the right diagnosis and care.
Summary
Overall, it can be seen that the mentioned studies agree with the issues prevalent in female patients’ ADHD diagnosis and treatment and support each other’s findings. First, Quinn (2005) found that adolescent girls and women with ADHD experience gender-specific issues that are not commonly seen in males. Moreover, Brzezińska and colleagues (2021) found that ADHD in women is often underdiagnosed and under-treated due to symptom presentation and stigma.
In turn, Winter and colleagues (2015) claim that the gendered and stereotyped portrayal of ADHD in women in the media can lead to misdiagnosis and undertreatment. Consequently, Martin and colleagues (2018) suggest that clinicians should consider sex-specific genetic risk when assessing ADHD symptoms and making a diagnosis. Gutman and colleagues (2020) claim that the tailored intervention can be effective in reducing ADHD symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, while having varying research methods, all researchers follow questions of bias, symptoms, and gender differences.