ADHD SYMPTOMS AND SEVERITY ARE SIMILAR IN BOYS AND GIRLS

from The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

The major symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in girls appear similar to those in boys, even though the condition is much less frequently diagnosed in girls, reports a study in the August 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Girls with ADHD are less likely to have accompanying disruptive behavior disorders, which may be one reason for their lower rate of diagnosis, suggests a research team led by child and adolescent psychiatrist Joseph Biederman, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital.

The researchers performed detailed testing in 140 girls with ADHD, average age 11 years. The girls had all the typical symptoms of ADHD, including inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. The most frequent symptom was inattention, which may or may not represent a difference from boys with ADHD.

Consistent with previous child and adolescent psychiatry research into ADHD, the girls scored relatively low on IQ and academic achievement tests and had high rates of impairment in social, school, and family functioning.

Girls with ADHD also had high rates of other psychiatric disorders, such as behavioral disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse. The rate of mood disorders was similar to that in boys. However, disruptive disorders-such as conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder-were less common in girls than expected in boys with ADHD.

Disruptive behavior problems are often what drive parents to seek medical help for children with ADHD. Relatively low rates of disruptive behavior may be one reason why girls with ADHD are less likely to be diagnosed.

ADHD is a very common problem, affecting three to five percent of American schoolchildren. It is diagnosed up to five times more frequently in boys than girls. However, by the most conservative estimate, at least 1 million American girls have ADHD.

The new report is the largest, most comprehensive study of girls with ADHD to date. The findings suggest that the symptoms of ADHD in girls are essentially the same as in boys, and that girls with ADHD have equally severe problems at home, at school, and in their social lives. The researchers hope that their findings will enhance appropriate diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in girls by child and adolescent psychiatrists and other health professionals.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry represents over 6,900 child and adolescent psychiatrists with at least five years of additional training beyond medical school in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families. Your Child and Your Adolescent, the AACAP's new books on parenting, give us an in-depth look at child development from infancy to adulthood; discussing what's normal, what's not, and when to seek help. The AACAP actively refers the media to expert spokespeople on child and adolescent issues.

Copright � 1999.  The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.   Used by permission of author.

 

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