Time after time

Failure to identify and support females with ADHD – a Swedish population register study

Bibliographic Data

ID21344129
AuthorsCharlotte Skoglund (0000-0002-6893-2862, Department of Medical Sciences Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden, corresponding author), Inger Sundström Poromaa (0000-0002-2491-2042, Department of Women's and Children's Health Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden), Daniel Leksell (Smart Psykiatri AB Stockholm Sweden), Katarina Ekholm Selling (0000-0001-8036-168X, Department of Women's and Children's Health Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden), Thomas Cars (0009-0008-0912-8226, Sence Research AB Uppsala Sweden), Maibritt Giacobini (0000-0002-6086-3137, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden), Susan Young (0000-0002-8494-6949, Psychology Services Limited London UK), Helena Kopp Kallner (0000-0001-7184-9165, Department of Clinical Sciences at Danderyd Hospital Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden)
Year2024
Volume65
Issue6
Pages832-844
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9630 • E-ISSN: 1469-7610
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jcpp.13920
PMID38016697
OpenAlexW4389109678
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited39

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with risk taking and negative health-related outcomes across the lifespan. Due to delay in referral and diagnostics, young females with ADHD may not be identified, nor appropriately supported by adequate interventions. METHODS: A total of 85,330 individuals with ADHD, all of whom were residents in Stockholm County between January 01, 2011, and December 31, 2021, were included as participants in this population-based, cross-sectional cohort study. Population controls (n = 426,626) were matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). Data was obtained from Regional Healthcare Data Warehouse of Region Stockholm (VAL) in Stockholm County. Exposure was ADHD-index, defined as the first record of either ICD-10 F90 diagnosis and/or ATC-code for stimulant or non-stimulant ADHD-medication during the study period. Primary outcome was age at ADHD-index. Secondary outcome measures were psychiatric comorbidity, pharmacological treatment, and health care utilization, prior to and after ADHD-index. RESULTS: Females were older at ADHD-index (23.5 years, SD 13.8) compared to males (19.6 years, SD 13.9, 95% CI of difference 3.74-4.11). Overall, females with ADHD showed higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity, pharmacological treatment, and health care utilization, compared to males with ADHD and female controls. CONCLUSIONS: Females with ADHD receive diagnosis and treatment for ADHD approximately 4 years later than males. They have a higher burden of comorbid psychiatric conditions and health care utilization, compared to males with ADHD and female controls, both prior to and after ADHD-index. To prevent long-term adverse consequences for females with ADHD, methods, and tools for early diagnosis and treatments that mitigate personal suffering and societal burden are warranted

Cohort · Comorbidity · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Referral · Socioeconomic status · Stimulant · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations · Psychology · Traumatic Brain Injury Research · Pediatrics

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