In a study by Robison et al. in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, it was found that women with ADHD have more functional impairment than men with ADHD. There were 515 subjects in the study, with 34% being women. More women (75%) had combined type ADHD than men (62%). Women had higher scores on measures of depression and anxiety. They also had more sleep difficulties than men. Women also scored higher on measures of mood volatility, over-reacting, and anger than men.
The authors conclude that these additional emotional issues may mask ADHD symptoms in women, so clinicians need to ask patients (particularly women) about the emotional dimensions of ADHD.
I’m guessing also that this increase of impairment in women may be related to the fact that women are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, as opposed to men, who are more likely to be diagnosed as children. Therefore, women may have had increased frustration and anxiety, since their ADHD was not treated as quickly.
