Abstract
The purpose of this Commentary is to provide context for the study titled, “Rediscovering ‘Me’: A consensual qualitative analysis of the experiences of Australian women with an adult diagnosis of ADHD”; to present an overview of the findings of that study; to highlight progress in research and clinical contexts; and to make recommendations for research and clinical practice pertaining to women with ADHD. It will be identified that, despite noted improvements in the understanding of the ways in which ADHD presents in girls and women, there remains a consequential data gap with implications for the conceptualization, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of ADHD in women. Of particular relevance are persistent misconceptions which contribute to missed and late diagnoses of ADHD in women, diagnostic frameworks that insufficiently capture women’s experiences with ADHD (including, but not limited to, the impact of hormones on symptom presentation, psychosocial impact, and medication efficacy) and a lack of evidence-based therapeutic support that specifically targets the unique challenges faced by women with ADHD. Whilst progress is underway, historical and ongoing inequities remain barriers to timely diagnosis and effective support for women with ADHD.
Keywords
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, ADHD in women, Late diagnosed ADHD