Women, Girls and ADHD - Part I (children)

Picture acquired from:  http://www.ourkids.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bad-kid-600x.jpg

As promised (although slightly delayed), I am going to share some basic literature review information regarding gender and ADHD.  In other words, I am trying to find a functional outlet for my addiction to reading journal articles ;)  A simple term search for 'girls and ADHD' into Ebsco Host yields a multitude of articles.  Mental health researchers are continually looking to define and further understand the manifestations of ADHD - how exciting?!?!?

Some interesting tidbits:

1.  ADHD can present differently in girls than in boys (Adams, 2007).

2.  Some studies have estimated 50-75% of girls just don't get diagnosed - we overlook    
     them (Adams, 2007).

3.  Research is beginning to tease out the gender differences of ADHD in regards to  
     symptoms, course over lifespan and neuropathology (Nussbaum, 2012).

4.  There just isn't enough active/published research regarding if treatments should differ  
     between boys and girls (Nussbaum, 2012).

What should we look for in girls?  According to Adams (2007), there are 6 signs that may alert a teacher, parent or caregiver to the presence of ADHD in girls.  They are as follows:

1.  Nonstop Talking
2.  Difficulty Initiating and Maintaining Frienships
3.  Difficulty Maintaining Attention 
4.  Exceptional Messiness
5.  Unfinished Work
6.  Emotionality

Why should we care?

Well, the research lays out many reasons.  Among these are factors for the child's lifespan which include:

Increased family burden
Negative discipline
Detrimental impacts on the relationship between the parent-child

All of these factors can easily translate into increased healthcare costs as well as diminished quality of life for those affected.

A little more detail...

A wonderful study published by the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in 2007 yielded a descriptive analysis regarding differences between genders.  Interestingly, their information poses the idea that the sub-type of ADHD is where we find the greatest gender differences.  Their information translates into two valuable pieces of information for clinicians (Bauermeister, Shrout, Chavez, Rubio-Stipec, Ramirez, Padilla and Canine, 2007).  These are:

1.  Girls with the Inattentive Type of ADHD are more likely to be diagnosed with Anxiety     
     Disorders.

2.  Boys, in general, are more likely to be diagnosed with mood disorders, specifically    
     Major Depressive Disorder.  

It is EXTREMELY important for diagnosing clinicians to have an active awareness of these findings.  This turns into a chicken and egg problem - one must not overlook the ADHD because of  the more frequently diagnosed Mood or Anxiety Disorder to present (Bauermeister et al., 2007).  

Further questions...


Boys, in general, are more likely to be diagnosed with a mood disorder.  Correlation based information was found to suggest the likelihood that failing a grade and/or being suspended/expelled increased the likelihood of a depression diagnosis in boys.  However, girls were much less likely to be expelled or fail a grade - this leads me to be curious about the possible mood effects found for children failing academic grades and/or being penalized with suspension/expulsion from their school community.  


References

Adams, C. (2007). Girls and ADHD: Are You Missing the Signs?. Instructor, 116(6), 31-35.


Bauermeister, J. J., Shrout, P. E., Chavez, L., Rubio-Stipec, M., Ramirez, R., Padilla, L., & ... Canino, G. (2007). ADHD and Gender: Are Risks and Sequela of ADHD the Same for Boys and Girls?. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry, 48(8), 831-839.

Nussbaum, N. L. (2012). ADHD and Female Specific Concerns: A Review of the Literature and Clinical Implications. Journal Of Attention Disorders, 16(2), 87-100.

Soffer, S. L., Mautone, J. A., & Power, T. J. (2008). Understanding Girls with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Applying Research to Clinical Practice. International Journal Of Behavioral Consultation & Therapy, 4(1), 14-29.

Mental Health and Women's Issues

Hi friends!  I am very blessed to be a part of my current graduate program.  I have acquired a particular interest in helping others to understand mental health concerns in everyday language.  Lately, I have been doing a ton of research of mental health conditions and how they 'look' in women. I am going to attempt to share resources to help others understand more about women-centered mental health topics.  I feel it is important to push against the stigma our society immediately associates with these 'labels.'  

Topics discussed will be:

Women/girls and ADHD

Womengirls and Aspergers

Postpartum Depression

 (cnn.com)

(blog.droz.com)

I am sure I will find more to drone on about eventually.  However, I feel these are three unique conditions which our society tends misunderstand.

Bluegrass Lullabies

C. just woke up crying and I went to rock her.  Meanwhile, my husband was downstairs listening to his stereo.  I picked up C. and she said, "I like Daddy's bluegrass music."  She then laid in my arms while I rocked her to sleep to the sweetest Appalachian melody.  I love the simple times like these.

Earlier this week I finally got the tattoo I have been wanting to get on my side:

I chose this quote because I truly believe that children become the characteristics and values with which we surround them.  At the end of the day, if C. is able to embrace grace, love and gratitude I will feel as though I have given her the tools to be at peace life.  This is a daily reminder to myself of what I need to embody within my interactions with her. Hopefully, I will take a timeout again soon to update more.

VA Backpacking Trip

We just returned from an absolutely amazing backpacking trip!  We did 18 miles in the Virginia Highlands - combination of the Appalachian Trail and Pine Mountain Trail.  The best part?  Wild ponies - everywhere.  The views combined with the roaming ponies - breathtaking.  It was a much needed break from the daily grind.  Cell phones/computers are not an option.  Cell service was gone about 15 miles before we got to the point of entry on the trail.  My awesome husband and I got to just enjoy each other's comanpy for a few days. I have already started planning our Spring trip :).

Blessings

I love to find the silver lining in daily life. Directing my energy towards the 'good' allows me to engage in mindfulness all throughout my day. Today, I am sick (roar). I am quarantined in my room to keep from getting my husband or C sick. It is not my idea of a good time. However, I am so grateful to sit and listen to them through the walls. My husband is beyond amazing with C. I love to hear them laughing. The laughter has been constant tonight - love it. I am so grateful for the relationship they share. So, even though I despise being sick I am elated for the opportunity to just listen to them and remember all of the blessings in my life :).

What a wonderful Saturday!  I started with a long run through the city.  The skyline is gorgeous at sunrise.  I spent the majority of the day being silly with my sweet girl.  I love the times I am able to turn off work and school and just play with her.  Today, she asked me to go look for bugs - ha!  We took a basket and walked around the neighborhood looking at different bugs.  She has absolutely no sense of fear when it comes to nature.  She "helped" me clean out her closet - ha.  She also spent forever pretending to play gymnastics - too cute!  I love to see her pretend play flourishing - such a great little imagination.  All in all, the best way to spend a Saturday at home.

Self Growth

My favorite part of my grad program is the constant emphasis on self-growth.  The program forces you to truly know yourself.  It is absolutely amazing what you can see when step back and observe your own patterns of behavior.
Recently, I have been extremely mindful of the model I am setting for my sweet girl.  I truly believe that children do what their parents do much more so than what their parents say.  This has led me to reflect upon the character traits I hope to instill in her.  Numerous have come to mind and this will hopefully be an ongoing exercise for me as she grows and matures.  This morning, I came across this quote:  "I will hold myself to a standard of grace - not perfection."  This statement eloquently sums up my hopes for her in regards to self pressure.  I hope that she strives towards showing compassion, kindness, mercy, intelligence - all of these together combine to picture of grace in my mind. I would much rather her look to develop these parts of herself than holding herself to society-based standards.