One in Four ADHD Women Has Attempted Suicide, Says Study

The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was much higher for women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder than women who had not.

Women with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are eight times more likely to attempt suicide, stated a new Canadian study. At the same time, ADHD men are four and a half times more likely to attempt suicide.

Substance //dependence and parental violence were found to increase the prevalence of suicide attempts. Adults with ADHD exposed to chronic parental domestic violence had triple the odds of suicide attempts.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment-FAQ
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that affects normal behavior and impairs the ability to concentrate.

‘The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was much higher for women with ADHD (24%) than women who had not (3%). Men with ADHD were also more likely to have attempted suicide than men without ADHD (9% vs. 2%).’

"The cross-sectional nature of this study prohibits our ability to determine possible causality; the relationship between chronic parental domestic violence and suicide attempts could flow in either direction," stated co-author Raphaël Nahar Rivière, a medical resident in anesthesiology at the University of Toronto.

"We speculate that violent parental conflict may cause extreme stress for the child with ADHD and predispose these individuals to mental illness and suicidal thoughts. In addition, the challenges of raising a child with ADHD who is struggling with severe mental health issues may cause parental conflict, which may escalate into domestic violence."

In this study, scientists found that women with ADHD had more than twice the odds of suicide attempts than men with ADHD.

Diet to control Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that affects children of school going age and often subsides as the child matures.

This highlights the urgency of providing adequate mental health supports across the life course to this vulnerable and neglected group.

The study examined a nationally representative sample of 21,744 Canadians, of whom 529 reported they had been diagnosed with ADHD. Data were drawn from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health.

Quiz on ADHD
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD, generally abbreviated as ADHD) is considered a “neurobehavioral developmental disorder”. To know what this definition means and what the causes, symptoms and treatment for ADD are; give our ADHD quiz your best shot.

"Knowing that women with ADHD who have experienced childhood adversities and adults with a history of substance dependence and/or depression are particularly vulnerable to attempting suicide will hopefully help clinicians improve targeting and outreach to this population," said co-author Senyo Agbeyaka, a recent University of Toronto MSW graduate who is a social worker at University Health Network.

ADHD in Adults

Suicide Risk Higher in ADHD People Experiencing Financial Distress
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) adults experience severe financial distress and are at fourfold higher risk of suicide, reports a new study.

In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness, and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Standard treatment options involve medication, education, skills training, and psychological counseling.

Source-Medindia