Rethinking ADHD in girls: Recent advances

Abstract

I recently did a media interview related to an earlier CABL commentary (Walters, 2018) focused on the underdiagnosis of ADHD in girls, prompting me to look at the recent research on the topic. Interestingly, the journalist I spoke with shared an article that noted the rising numbers of women ages 23–29 years and 30–34 years diagnosed with ADHD. Although still a relatively small percentage compared to female children, this percentage has almost doubled from 2020–2022 (Russell et al., 2023). In addition, the percentage of males versus females of any age diagnosed with ADHD increased from males being 133% more likely to be diagnosed in 2010 to females 28% more likely in 2022 (Russell et al., 2023).