title: [Impact of gender on the utilization of outpatient health service for adult ADHD].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is only scarce knowledge of gender differences in adult ADHD. Thus, we studied a large population of adults referred to a specialized ambulance for adult ADHD for possible gender differences regarding age, ADHD core and associated psychopathology, severity of symptoms and subjective burden from the disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from 776 adult patients, who had been referred to a specialized ambulance for ADHD. 275 male and 236 female patients were diagnosed with ADHD. Standardized self-rating and expert-rating instruments of the Homburg ADHD Scales for adults (HASE) were used for diagnosis and assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male and female patients did not differ significantly regarding their prevalence of admittance, age at diagnosis of ADHD, ADHD subtype according to DSM-IV, symptom severity and subjective burden from the disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More female than male patients as could be expected from epidemiological data were referred to the ambulance suggesting that males with ADHD are less disposed for psychiatric support. No major differences regarding clinical aspects of ADHD have to be considered between male and female patients, except a higher prevalence of symptoms of emotional dysregulation, which are more prominent in female patients.
authors.affiliation: IGPuP - Neurozentrum, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar. petra.retz-junginger@uks.eu
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Retz-Junginger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rösler
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Retz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data