Women suffering from ADHD more prone to suicidal tendencies, says study

Zee Media Bureau

Toronto: Suicide is a result of many symptoms, the biggest one being depression and over a period of time, people with the condition begin to show suicidal tendencies if not treated on time.

Now, a study has shown that women who are suffering from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more prone to have more than four times the odds of suicidal thoughts and generalised anxiety disorders.

"Many people think of ADHD as primarily a boys' disorder which has little relevance for girls and women. Our findings suggest, to the contrary, that a large portion of women with ADHD are struggling with mental illness, physical health concerns and poverty," said Esme Fuller-Thomson from University of Toronto.

For the research, a representative sample of 3,908 Canadian women aged 20 to 39 were examined, of whom 107 reported that they had been diagnosed with ADHD.

The researchers also found that prevalence of physical pain and insomnia was more common in women with ADHD.

"The prevalence of mental illness among women with ADHD was disturbingly high with 46 per cent having seriously considered suicide, 36 per cent having generalised anxiety disorder, 31 per cent having major depressive disorder and 39 per cent having substance abuse problems at some point in their life," Fuller-Thomson said.

"These rates are much higher than among women without ADHD, ranging from more than four times the odds of suicidal thoughts and generalised anxiety disorders to more than twice the odds of major depressive disorder and substance abuse" Fuller-Thomson noted.

The findings were published online in the journal Child: Care, Health and Development.

(With IANS inputs)