title: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies suggest that androgens are involved in the etiology of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we investigated the ADHD symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex endocrine, hormonal, and metabolic condition associated with hyperandrogenism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty women between the ages of 18 and 35 years with PCOS were recruited for the study group. For comparison, 40 healthy women who had regular menses were included. Current and childhood ADHD symptoms were assessed by using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and Wender-Utah Rating Scale, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with PCOS had higher total Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and total Wender-Utah Rating Scale scores than controls. According to the Wender-Utah Rating Scale, the frequency of childhood ADHD was significantly higher in PCOS group than the control. Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale: Hyperactivity-Impulsivity and Wender-Utah Rating Scale: Behavioral Problems/Impulsivity scores were significantly higher in women with PCOS. However, there were no significant differences between groups in both current and childhood inattention scores. We found no correlations between ADHD symptoms and serum hormone levels including testosterone in women with PCOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that women with PCOS have higher ADHD symptoms. Further studies are needed to investigate the association between PCOS and ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey cocukergen@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sabri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hergüner
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harmancı
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome; attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder; prenatal androgens; sex difference; testosterone