Women and attention deficit disorders: a great burden overlooked.
OBJECTIVE
To describe adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to gender-based differences in symptom expression with particular emphasis on disparities concerning women, psychiatric comorbidities that affect assessment and detection, and evidenced-based treatment approaches for nurse practitioners (NPs).


METHODS
Health sciences literature was reviewed using the following data-bases: Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Proquest, Psych Info, Wiley Interscience, Cambridge Press, Science Direct, and Thomson Gale.


CONCLUSIONS
Recognizing adult ADHD may be challenging; however, with increased understanding regarding the subtle variations in symptoms, use of screening instruments, and careful assessment techniques, NPs will be better able to recognize the characteristics of ADHD that are important to early detection, proper diagnosis, and effective treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional research and improved clinician education may facilitate early detection and treatment of ADHD among adults of all ages and ethnic/racial backgrounds.
Waite
Roberta
R
Center for Health Disparities Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. lorene@nursing.upenn.edu
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants