Diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are rising, particularly among girls, prompting a new research initiative to address gaps in understanding the condition’s impact on females. According to Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare, 8.3% of girls aged 15-19 were using ADHD medication in 2024, compared to 4.7% in 2020. This increase highlights the need for more targeted research to improve the health and well-being of girls and women with ADHD.
Despite the growing number of diagnoses, research specifically focused on the experiences and health of girls with ADHD remains limited. A new five-year project, involving prominent ADHD researchers like Lotta Borg Skoglund, Lisa Thorell, and Helena Kallner Kopp, aims to fill this critical knowledge gap.
“We have had difficulty finding funding for our research on girls and women with ADHD, so it’s great that we now have the opportunity for a five-year project where we will conduct 4-5 studies,” said Lisa Thorell. “ADHD in girls has received increasing attention in the media, but the area is still lagging behind in terms of research.”
The research will center around questions originating from the experiences of girls with ADHD, including the connection between ADHD and other medical conditions, challenges with emotional regulation, and how symptoms fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. Researchers will gather data through registries, interviews, and surveys.
“For us, We see important to formulate research questions together with the patient group,” Thorell explained. “We as well think it is crucial that the research is not solely based on statistics and registries, but also on the girls’ own voices about what works well and what doesn’t in everyday life.”
The project aims to move beyond simply identifying symptoms and instead focus on their impact on daily life. “Many people benefit from medication, but even with medication, it can be especially important for girls with ADHD to receive strategies and support regarding, for example, social relationships and emotional regulation – which are often major problems,” Thorell added.
Clinical experience suggests girls with ADHD seek healthcare more frequently than their peers without a diagnosis. The initial phase of the research will investigate the co-occurrence of ADHD with other physical and mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and chronic pain.
“Girls and women with ADHD stand out as very healthcare-seeking, and one aspect is that girls receive a diagnosis on average four years later than boys,” Thorell noted. “If support and treatment are delayed or absent during formative years, the difficulties can increase for a group that already has greater difficulties in general.” A diagnosis, she added, can provide understanding, insight, and realistic expectations, potentially leading to effective medication, support from others, and accommodations in school.
Researchers will also investigate the impact of hormonal changes on ADHD symptoms, an area where knowledge is currently lacking. Previous research and clinical observations suggest that hormonal fluctuations can exacerbate symptoms in girls and women. The team will track participants over several months using an app to collect data on symptoms and identify problematic situations.
“Our hypothesis is that hormones during certain phases of the menstrual cycle affect mood, ADHD symptoms, and thus functional level in such a way that more problems can arise in everyday life, and this for a group that is already generally having a harder time,” Thorell said. “There is also a lot to suggest that girls with ADHD experience more premenstrual problems with increased pain.”
International research indicates adjusting medication dosage during certain parts of the menstrual cycle can be helpful for adult women, but studies on adolescent girls are needed. The project will also examine sexual and reproductive health, an important area given that teenage pregnancies are more common among girls with ADHD. “We know from previous studies that young girls with ADHD may have more difficulty starting and maintaining the use of contraception,” Thorell explained. “More research could help these girls get better help and guidance, for example, with choosing other contraceptives that operate better.”
The research team also hopes to counter misinformation circulating on social media platforms. “There is, for example, scaremongering based on a study that made a connection between contraception and an increased risk of breast cancer, but for a 15-year-ancient girl with ADHD, the risk of breast cancer is of course minimal compared to the risk of teenage pregnancy when not using contraception,” Thorell said. She also noted the trend of basing daily routines on the menstrual cycle, which she cautioned can be based on misinterpretations of research and lead to overly restrictive advice.
Finally, the project will explore emotional regulation—a persistent challenge for many girls with ADHD. “From the experiences of girls and women, we know that managing emotions is something they struggle with and may need more support with, even if they are using ADHD medication,” Thorell said. “Many describe an experience of being ‘too much’ – with both positive and negative emotions. This can increase the risk of negative reactions from others who do not understand or can cope, and can also lead to anxiety and depressive thoughts. With more support around emotional regulation, everyday life could flow better for many girls with ADHD, while of course not everyone has this as their main problem.”
