ADHD In Adult Women
Help for Women With Adult Attention Deficit Disorder
The ADHD rate in women may be significantly higher than the commonly
reported 4.4% prevalence of adult ADHD for men and women. Epidemiological
studies of children find rates of 9% to 19%. Studies of adults who were ADHD as
children find 4% to 60% continue to have ADHD symptoms into adulthood.
Studies comparing male to female ratios show over representation of males. The
ratios range from 3:2 to 12:1. However, the symptoms of ADHD in women may
be grossly underestimated because hyperactivity is much more often present in
males.
Hyperactivity with accompanying aggression, violence, and conduct disorders make
male ADHD much more likely to be diagnosed. Additionally, adults who may have
outgrown some of their childhood ADHD symptoms are frequently impaired by the
residual symptoms though they may no longer meet full ADHD diagnosis criteria. A
much higher number of women with ADHD may be true if we multiply 19% times
60% times 1:1 ratio. This would result in an adult ADHD prevalence in women of
12%.
Women are increasingly seeking medical treatment for
adult ADHD. From 2000 to 2005 women increased their use of medicine by 11% per
year. This rate of increase for getting help with ADHD symptoms was faster than
the increase in children and in men. About 1% of all women are now taking
medication for adult ADHD in this country. Since about 4% of adults have ADHD,
this means that only about 25% of the women with adult ADHD are getting help for
their ADHD symptoms.
The impact of untreated adult ADHD in women can be devastating. Women frequently have to juggle more roles than men. A woman may have to
juggle motherhood, job, and spousal responsibilities simultaneously. Some women are also in school at the same time. Inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and
possible concomitant hyperactivity wreak havoc on a woman's ability to pay
attention in conversations, read and remember, focus on details of a project,
manage time wisely, and negotiate conflicts with children and spouse.
Frequently, women seek psychiatric help with suspected adult ADHD in times of crisis. They may
be nearing finals and are frantic because they haven't been able to sit down and
study regularly throughout the semester, and now can't retain what they're
trying to cram. Another common scenario is when a woman has received a bad review at
work. She is frustrated because she's put in great effort and a lot of time.
She
knows she has the intelligence to do a good job, but has been disorganized,
unfocused, and unable to maintain a consistent high quality performance.
Sometimes mothers seek treatment because they know they're irrationally
impatient with their children. They are so overwhelmed by their
responsibilities that they have not been able to organize and focus on one task
to completion. They may start cleaning, go to another room, get caught up in
some activity in that room, and not complete one chore in three hours.
It is critical that women of childbearing age
discuss possible increase in risk of birth defects and current use of
contraceptives before taking any medication. Adderall is known to have associated increased risks of premature delivery and
low birth weight. Ritalin may have some of the same risks. We have a lot of
experience using Wellbutrin safely in depressed women during pregnancy and it is a safer choice for
treating ADHD during pregnancy.
However, both prospective parents should discuss the
risks and benefits of continuing or discontinuing use of any medication during
an anticipated pregnancy. Other ADHD medicines such as Strattera, Provigil,
guanfacine, clonidine, Aricept, and older tricyclic medications have issues that
detract from their consideration for safe usage during pregnancy.
The lifetime frequency of major depression in adult women with ADHD is 36%.
This is 6 times the rate in women who have no ADHD and 1-1/2 times the rate in
men who have adult ADHD. Frequently, depression in women appears to be due to the problems
associated with coping with undiagnosed ADHD. If it seems
appropriate, we may only start a medication for ADHD.
Frequently, depression improves so much that another medicine for depression
is not necessary. If medicine is necessary for the depression, Wellbutrin may be recommended and no other medicine for ADHD. Wellbutrin may
parsimoniously treat
both conditions. Wellbutrin relieves depression in 70% of patients and relieves
ADHD symptoms in 57% of patients.
The lifetime prevalence of three or more anxiety disorders in women with adult
ADHD is 52%. This is three times the prevalence in women with no ADHD and about
the same rate as that in men with ADHD. Anxiety disorders include panic
disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. Frequently, patients with these disorders get more relief from their
anxiety than they have been getting from previous treatments when their ADHD is
treated effectively. Occasionally, some anxiety symptoms improve or remit
without need for any other medication besides the ADHD
treatment.
The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder in women with ADHD is 10%. This is
three times the prevalence in women without ADHD and about the same rate as that
in men with adult ADHD. Other sources have given prevalence rates of 30% for
bipolar in adult ADHD women. Interestingly, about 30% of patients diagnosed with
bipolar disorder have adult ADHD. Patients who may have ADHD should always be screened for bipolar disorder
for two important reasons. There is
risk of triggering a manic episode in a bipolar patient starting Ritalin when
taking stabilizing medication for
their bipolar disorder. Also, if the patient is having manic symptoms of their
bipolar disorder, they may appear to have ADHD because of their hyperactivity,
rapid speech, impulsiveness, inattention, and distractibility. ADHD-like
symptoms may disappear if their manic episode is treated with a mood stabilizer.
Women with adult ADHD have an alcohol and drug
prevalence that is four times that of women who do not have adult ADHD. Almost
36% of women with ADHD have alcohol problems and 26% have drug problems. Men who
have ADHD had a twofold increased prevalence of alcohol and drug problems over
men who do not have adult ADHD. Hence, adult ADHD in women confers twice the
risk of a substance abuse problem as it does for men. This underscores the
importance of women getting their adult ADHD treated to increase their chances
of recovering from a substance abuse disorder. Also, there is good evidence that
treating ADHD may prevent the development of an alcohol or drug problem.
Get specialized help for Women with Adult ADHD,
call Dr. Hege
today for the expertise and relief you need!
Self-Pay Patients--Mention this website for 10%
off your first visit!
Darvin Hege MD, PC
2150 Peachford Road, Suite P
Atlanta, GA 30338-6521
770-458-0007
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