Gender effects on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults, revisited.
BACKGROUND
This study reexamined gender differences in a large sample of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
We assessed the effects of ADHD, gender, and their interaction on rates of psychiatric comorbidity and cognitive functioning in 219 adults with ADHD who were referred to an outpatient psychiatric clinic over the last 7 years compared with 215 control subjects group-matched to control subjects on age and gender, and ascertained from ongoing family genetic case control adults with ADHD.


RESULTS
There was no evidence that gender moderated the association between ADHD and other psychiatric disorders. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was associated with cognitive deficits and higher rates of major depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and antisocial personality disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults is associated with psychiatric and cognitive impairment in both genders. These results bear striking similarities to findings reported in pediatric samples, supporting the validity of ADHD and stressing the importance of identifying and treating the disorder in adulthood.
Biederman
Joseph
J
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Faraone
Stephen V
SV
Monuteaux
Michael C
MC
Bober
Marie
M
Cadogen
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data