GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ADHD

This study examined possible gender differences in children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Results indicated that adult self-ratings differed significantly by gender. Adult women repo rted fewer assets and more problems than did male counterparts, but th ere was no gender difference with respect to age at referral, intellig ence quotient, indicators of neuropsychological performance, or parent or teacher ratings of behavior. Referral bias against girls is a poss ible reason for previously reported gender differences, so we interpre ted our results in light of the participants' referral patterns. There was a nonsignificant trend for girls with relatively more severe rati ngs of hyperactivity, conduct disorder, or inattention to be referred earlier than were boys. Overall, our results suggest no evidence of co gnitive or neuropsychological differences by gender in samples that ar e sensitive to behavioral deviance in girls las evidenced by early ref erral), but adult women's self-perception is comparatively poorer than that of adult men.