ADHD link to severe premenstrual disorder uncovered in women

By jaojormami

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

PMDD is characterised by severe emotional (e.g., depressed mood), physical (e.g., fatigue), and cognitive (e.g., difficulties concentrating) symptoms that occur in the days before menstruation. PMDD is a serious mental health condition that is associated with severe outcomes, including an increased risk of suicide. 

The study, led by Dr Thomas Broughton, a postdoctoral researcher, and Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais, a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, collected online questionnaire responses from over seven hundred women in the UK. The questions asked about individuals' ADHD diagnosis and symptoms, PMDD symptoms, and co-occurring anxiety and depression. The researchers compared ADHD and non-ADHD groups and found that women with a clinical ADHD diagnosis were over three times more likely to meet criteria for PMDD than those without. Women who had high levels of ADHD symptoms and impairment (even if they did not have a diagnosis from a clinician) were also over four times more likely to have PMDD. The risk for PMDD was highest among women with ADHD who also had a depression or anxiety diagnosis. 

These findings suggest that women with ADHD, and especially those with ADHD and depression/anxiety, may benefit from PMDD screening. This is the case even if they don't have a formal ADHD diagnosis but have high ADHD symptoms and impairment. 

Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais, who supervised the project, said: "Because ADHD was historically considered a condition that mainly affected boys, many issues specific to females have been overlooked, including associations between ADHD and times of hormonal change. Our findings emphasise the need to consider issues affecting adult women with ADHD, and more specifically how females with ADHD may be at higher risk for experiencing PMDD." 

Dr Broughton added: "Our findings also suggest that further research is needed to improve understanding of the link between ADHD and times of hormonal change, including the menstrual cycle, and to reduce health inequalities and diagnostic bias in women and girls with ADHD." 

Research team: Dr Thomas Broughton (Queen Mary University of London), Dr Ellen Lambert (King’s College London), Dr Jasmin Wertz (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais (Queen Mary University of London).