Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach providing guidance for the identification and treatment of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in girls and women.
Susan YoungNicoletta AdamoBryndís Björk ÁsgeirsdóttirPolly BranneyMichelle BeckettWilliam ColleySally CubbinQuinton DeeleyEmad FarragGisli GudjonssonPeter HillJack HollingdaleOzge KilicTony LloydPeter MasonEleni PaliokostaSri PerecherlaJane SedgwickCaroline SkirrowKevin TierneyKobus van RensburgEmma WoodhousePublished in: BMC psychiatry (2020)
This practical approach based upon expert consensus will inform effective identification, treatment and support of girls and women with ADHD. It is important to move away from the prevalent perspective that ADHD is a behavioural disorder and attend to the more subtle and/or internalised presentation that is common in females. It is essential to adopt a lifespan model of care to support the complex transitions experienced by females that occur in parallel to change in clinical presentation and social circumstances. Treatment with pharmacological and psychological interventions is expected to have a positive impact leading to increased productivity, decreased resource utilization and most importantly, improved long-term outcomes for girls and women.