Teen girls with ADHD at higher risk of mental illness
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious problem for teenage girls, and those who have it appear to be at much higher risk for mental illness by age 17, a Harvard Medical School researcher reported Tuesday.
The largest, most thorough study so far comparing girls with ADHD with peers who don’t have it underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, says study leader Joseph Biederman, a child psychiatrist. He spoke at the American Psychiatric Association meeting here.
Biederman’s study tracked 140 girls with ADHD from ages 12 to 17 and compared them with 122 girls without the disorder. By 17, the ADHD girls were far more likely to be clinically depressed, to have anxiety disorders and to have conduct disorder.
About 10 boys are referred for ADHD treatment for every girl “and 99% of the childhood ADHD research is on boys,” Biederman says. He believes it’s because girls don’t become disruptive as early in life as boys with ADHD do, so it often goes undiagnosed.
As if parents didn’t have enough to worry about with their teenage daughters, now you should keep a lookout for mental illness as well.
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2 Comments to
“Teen girls with ADHD at higher risk of mental illness”
I wanted to ask, I have a girl teen pupil that her father died about 4 yrs ago and her mother is also sick. She is add diagnosed and has problems with all her studies, yet her mother has great expectations from her (because her older sisters were good students). How can I release the pressure she is going through?
Your comment will be very appreciated.
Dear Claude,
Please access your school social worker. He or she can assist you in dealing with this issue.
MKL
School Social Worker
IL
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