Hidden in plain sight: delayed ADHD diagnosis among girls and women - a commentary on Skoglund etal. (2023).

Abstract

Skoglund etal. (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2023) finds women with ADHD experience a nearly 4-year delay in receiving an ADHD diagnosis compared to men, despite also having high rates of prior contact with the mental health care system. In this commentary, I discuss the findings of Skoglund etal. and how they shed light on possible explanations for this diagnostic delay among women, and the need to consider women-specific issues, like times of hormonal change, in ADHD diagnosis and treatment.