ADHD Diagnosed 5 Years Later in Women Than Men: Study Finds - Video

A major new study has revealed that women with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are diagnosed, on average, five years later than men, despite symptoms appearing at the same age. The research, led by Dr. Silvia Amoretti and her team in Barcelona, also found that women face greater emotional and functional challenges than men by the time they receive a diagnosis.

ADHD affects millions worldwide, yet sex-based differences in its diagnosis and clinical outcomes remain poorly understood. To better investigate these disparities, the research team analyzed a clinical sample of 900 adults (54.9% male and 45.1% female) attending a specialized outpatient program for a first-time ADHD diagnosis. The average age of participants was 36.94 years. Using standardized clinical interviews and validated rating scales, they assessed age at diagnosis, symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidities, and psychosocial functioning.

The findings showed that women were diagnosed at an average age of 28.96, while men were diagnosed earlier, at 24.13 years. However, symptoms began at similar ages across both sexes. Dr. Amoretti explained, “We found that although ADHD symptoms started at a similar age in males and females, women were diagnosed about five years later. By the time of diagnosis, they showed more severe symptoms, worse functioning in daily life, and higher rates of depression and anxiety.”

“Girls with ADHD are more likely to seem inattentive and generally less disruptive. This becomes clinically important, as it means that women are just not treated early enough, and often are just not diagnosed at all. We have seen similar tendencies internationally, so it is likely that this is a global problem. The nature of the condition leads to poorer diagnosis in women everywhere, meaning that women can lose on average five years of treatment, 5 years of a better life”.

Males were three times more likely to report legal troubles—18.1% of men had experienced legal issues compared to just 6.6% of women.

Reference: Mestres F, Richarte V, Crespín JJ, et al. Sex differences in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A population-based study. European Psychiatry. 2025;68(1):e90. doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.2441