Treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Women with ADHD: it is an explanation, not the excuse du jour

PURPOSE

To call attention to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a psychiatric disorder that can limit women's potential and overall well-being.

CONCLUSION

ADHD, a legitimate neurobiological disorder that is often hidden, ignored, or misdiagnosed among women, causes them to struggle in silence. Proper interventions for women with ADHD that provide significant attention to context mitigate challenges across psychological, academic, occupational, and social domains. This should amend the diagnosis du jour concept, thereby supporting mechanisms to improve early intervention and positive outcomes.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Primary care practitioners play a central role in recognition, intervention, and recovery of women with ADHD.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a review and update

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent, chronic, and pervasive childhood disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate activity level, impulsivity, and inability to sustain attention and concentration. Core symptoms of the disorder are associated with impairment in multiple domains of functioning and often coexist with other psychiatric disorders, the most prevalent being oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. Concerns have been expressed about the overdiagnosis of ADHD, an upsurge in prescription of stimulant medication, and wide variations in practice patterns related to diagnosis and treatment of children with ADHD among primary care providers. Clinical research and expert consensus guidelines over the past decade have increasingly clarified the most effective approaches to diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. Hence, the purpose of this article was to provide primary care providers with the most current, evidence-based information on the assessment and treatment of children with ADHD.

Women and attention deficit disorders: a great burden overlooked

PURPOSE

To describe adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to gender-based differences in symptom expression with particular emphasis on disparities concerning women, psychiatric comorbidities that affect assessment and detection, and evidenced-based treatment approaches for nurse practitioners (NPs).

DATA SOURCES

Health sciences literature was reviewed using the following data-bases: Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Proquest, Psych Info, Wiley Interscience, Cambridge Press, Science Direct, and Thomson Gale.

CONCLUSIONS

Recognizing adult ADHD may be challenging; however, with increased understanding regarding the subtle variations in symptoms, use of screening instruments, and careful assessment techniques, NPs will be better able to recognize the characteristics of ADHD that are important to early detection, proper diagnosis, and effective treatment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Additional research and improved clinician education may facilitate early detection and treatment of ADHD among adults of all ages and ethnic/racial backgrounds.