ADHD Ignores Gender

ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood but long was considered germane to boys, whose symptoms are usually more overt and distracting.
This false assumption might jeopardize public health if it continues, says a recent study that showed girls with ADHD are far more likely to stumble in life than girls without it.

Girls diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school are at greater risk than teenagers for substance abuse, delinquency, failure in school, early sexual activity, low self-worth and poor friendships, says a longitudinal study from the University of California, Berkeley.

The federally funded study is one of the largest samples of girls with ADHD, who have been overshadowed by boys with the disorder. Researchers began the study in 1997 with a group of more than 200 racially diverse girls when they were 6 to 12 years old. Out of 228 girls, 140 had ADHD and 88 did not. They were observed closely during a five-week summer camp. Girls appear to be similarly affected by ADHD, but beyond what boys with the disorder experience, teenage girls are more prone to depression and eating disorders, the study says. (Tulsa)