ADHD link to severe premenstrual disorder uncovered in women

A new study from a group of scientists led by Queen Mary University in London is British Journal of Psychiatry, It was found that women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be at a higher risk of premenstrual discomfort disorder (PMDD).

PMDD is characterized by severe emotions (e.g., depression), physical (e.g., fatigue), and cognitive (difficult to concentrate) symptoms that occur on the day before menstruation. PMDD is a serious mental health condition associated with serious consequences, including an increased risk of suicide.

The study was led by postdoctoral researcher Dr. Thomas Broughton and Dr. Jessica Agnew Bray, a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University in London, and collected online survey responses from more than 700 women in the UK. Questions asked about individual ADHD diagnosis and symptoms, PMDD symptoms, and co-occurrences of anxiety and depression.

Researchers compared the ADHD and non-ADHD groups and found that women with a clinical ADHD diagnosis were more than three times more likely to meet the criteria for PMDD. Women with high levels of ADHD symptoms and disorders (even if they had not been diagnosed by a clinician) were more than four times more likely to have PMDD. The risk of PMDD was highest among women with ADHD who had depression or an anxiety diagnosis.

These findings suggest that women with ADHD, particularly those with ADHD and depression/anxiety, may benefit from PMDD screening. This applies even if you have not received a formal ADHD diagnosis but have high symptoms and disorders of ADHD.

“Because ADHD was historically considered a condition that has primarily influenced boys, many issues inherent in women have been overlooked, including the link between ADHD and the time of hormonal changes,” said Dr. Jessica Agnew Blaze, who oversees the project. Adult woman Using ADHD can, more specifically, increase the risk of women with ADHD experiencing PMDD. ”

Dr. Broughton added: Menstrual cycleand to reduce health inequality and diagnostic bias in women and girls with ADHD. ”

The research team includes Dr. Thomas Broughton (Queen University, London), Dr. Ellen Lambert (Kings College London), Dr. Jasmine Weltz (University of Edinburgh), and Jessica Agnewbray (University of Queen Mary, London).