ADD and women

August 11 2016

Dr. Goodman interviewed by Huffington Post on ADHD and Women

David W. Goodman, MD Media Interviews Online Articles, Patient Education ADD and women, ADHD and women, David W. Goodman MD, gender and adult ADD, gender and adult ADHD, Huffington Post ADD and women, Huffington Post ADHD and women

I was invited to assist with background information on ADHD in women and offered my insights on the gender differences when dealing with ADHD. I invite you to read the article and celebrate the increased attention to the gender differences of ADHD.

ADHD in women is now an ongoing topic of research and discussion since it has been recognized as occurring more often than previously realized. Those disruptive boys sure got the teachers attention but the quiet girls in the classroom were overlooked. Now, as adults, the women with ADHD find great difficulties and challenges in their lives. The negative consequences are problematic and constrict success in occupational pursuits and relationship satisfaction.

The Catherine Pearson of the Huffington Post picked up on the recent Canadian study of ADHD women and its report that “women with ADHD had triple the prevalence of insomnia, chronic pain, suicidal ideation, childhood sexual abuse and generalized anxiety disorder and double the prevalence of substance abuse, current smoking, depressive disorders, severe poverty and childhood physical abuse in comparison with women without ADHD”. This is direct quote from the results section of this study of over 100 ADHD women.

Therefore, when evaluating women with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, please look for ADHD and vis a versa. Many clinicians will focus on the primary complaint of the patient without a more comprehensive evaluation of all possibly co-existing psychiatric disorders. Unless patients rise the consideration for ADHD, it is often overlooked. If, after reading articles on ADHD and identifying with these experiences your whole life, raise it with your doctor and/or therapist.

Our website has many professional articles and videos on ADHD to get you started.

I continue to thank those of you interested in my insights and advocacy for ADHD.

David W. Goodman, M.D.

June 25 2013

Women’s Health Magazine and ADHD in Women

David W. Goodman, MD Doctor's Blog, Media Interviews Online Articles, Patient Education ADD and women, ADD in magazines, ADHD and women, ADHD in magazines, David W. Goodman, MD and media

The June 2013 issue of Women’s Health magazine includes an article by S. Subramanian on ADHD in women. This is a long and insightful article highlighting the ADHD issues that specifically arise in women’s lives and relationships. I was honored to be interviewed and quoted in the article along with other nationally recognized experts in the field (Ed Hallowell, M.D., Patricia Quinn, M.D., Russell Ramsey, Ph.D., Craig Surman, M.D., Melissa Ovlov, and Gina Pera)

National coverage by press and media of ADHD in adults continues to be of interest to the public. With each such article a few more people reflect on their lives and experiences and think “Gosh, that sounds like me” or “Gosh, that sounds like someone I know well.” Hopefully these people seek out additional information and pursue a proper evaluation.

According to my recently ADHD diagnosed 65 year old patient, “It’s never to late to see what I’m really capable of.”

David W. Goodman, M.D.

October 24 2012

Women and ADHD at HealthWomen.org

David W. Goodman, MD Doctor's Blog, Media Interviews Online Articles, Patient Education ADD, ADD and women, ADHD, ADHD and women, ADHD life issues, adult ADD, adult ADD education, Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, attention deficit disorder, David W. Goodman MD

Although the gender distribution of ADHD in children is 3 boys to 1 girl, in adults the distribution is 1 woman to 1 man. Women are being diagnosed more often in adulthood because they usually don’t have the disruptive behavior in childhood like the boys. Women and men get diagnosed because the persistent inattention, distractiblity and disorganization impairing their ability to complete tasks in a timely fashion.

HealthWomen.org invited me to be the medical editor on their article on this subject so as to insure the accuracy of the information. I was pleased to review, edit and update the information for their readers.

I invite you to take a look. This is a long and comprehensive review with up-to-date information to help women, men and their family with ADHD.