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Influence of gender on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Europe – ADORE

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Abstract

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in girls in Europe is poorly understood; it is not known whether they exhibit similar symptom patterns or co-existing problems and receive the same type of treatment as boys.

Objective

To examine gender differences for referral patterns, social demographic factors, ADHD core symptomatology, co-existing health problems, psychosocial functioning and treatment.

Methods

Baseline data from the ADHD Observational Research in Europe (ADORE) study, a 24-month, naturalistic, longitudinal observational study in 10 European countries of children (aged 6–18 years) with hyperactive/inattentive/impulsive symptoms but no previous diagnosis of ADHD, were analysed by gender.

Results

Data from 1,478 children were analysed: 231 girls (15.7 %) and 1,222 boys (84.3 %) (gender data missing for 25 patients). Gender ratios (girl:boy) varied by country, ranging from 1:3 to 1:16. Comparisons showed few gender effects in core ADHD symptomatology and clinical correlates of ADHD. Compared with boys, girls had significantly more parent-rated emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviour and were more likely to be the victim of bullying and less likely to be the bully. Girls and boys had similar levels of co-existing psychiatric and physical health problems, and received the same type of treatment.

Conclusions

Fewer girls than boys are referred for ADHD treatment, but they have a similar pattern of impairment and receive similar treatment.

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Abbreviations

ADHD:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ADORE:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder Observational Research in Europe

ADHD-RS-IV:

ADHD Rating Scale-IV

CD:

Conduct Disorder

CHIP-CE:

Child Health and Illness Profile – Child Edition

CGAS:

Children's Global Assessment Scale

CGI-S:

Clinical Global Impression – Severity scale

HRQoL:

Health-Related Quality of Life

MTA:

Multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD

ODD:

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

SDQ:

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Buskerud Hospital, 3004, Drammen, Norway

    Torunn Stene Nøvik

  2. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Mutua de Terrassa Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Amaia Hervas

  3. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

    Søren Dalsgaard

  4. Medical Centre Rijnmond South, Dept. of Paediatrics, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Rob Rodrigues Pereira

  5. Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Research Centre, Windlesham, Surrey, UK

    Maria J. Lorenzo

Authors
  1. Torunn Stene Nøvik
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  2. Amaia Hervas
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  3. Stephen J. Ralston**
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  4. Søren Dalsgaard
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  5. Rob Rodrigues Pereira
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  6. Maria J. Lorenzo
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Consortia

ADORE Study Group*

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Torunn Stene Nøvik.

Additional information

* Members of the ADORE Study Group G Baldursson, D Coghill, P Curatolo, S Dalsgaard, M Döpfner, B Falissard, A Hervas, MF Le Heuzey, TS Nøvik, RR Pereira, U Preuss, S Ralston, P Rasmussen, AW Riley, A Rothenberger, G Spiel, HC Steinhausen, L Vlasveld

**Employed by Eli Lilly and Company at the time the research was performed

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Nøvik, T.S., Hervas, A., Ralston**, S.J. et al. Influence of gender on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Europe – ADORE. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 15 (Suppl 1), i15–i24 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-1003-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-1003-z

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