Was it ADHD I had all along? Perceived consequences for women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood

Between 2019 and 2022, the number of women aged 20-24 diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Norway doubled, to around 2.2% of all women in this age group. As the numbers of incidents have been rising, so have the voices suggesting the diagnosis is “trending” too fast or has gotten “out of hand”. This qualitative study explores women’s lived experiences of receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood and the perceived consequences of late diagnosis. We conducted in-depth interviews with nine women who were over the age of 25 when they were diagnosed with ADHD. The participants were between the ages of 28-62 years old at the time of the interview, and the mean age was 40.5 years. Participants described complex and serious burdens related to education, relationships and mental health issues. When the women in this study look at their past, they believe their lives could have been better had their diagnosis been given earlier. Obtaining a diagnosis was significant in that it enabled access to appropriate treatment, provided validation of past experiences, and contributed to the development of a more comprehensive self-understanding. We discuss the synergies in our findings with earlier studies on ADHD in women and interpret them in terms of A. Honneth’s theory of recognition. The study highlights the need for further research and improved knowledge about ADHD in women, and the need to disseminate that knowledge beyond the field of clinical psychology. ADHD may be over-diagnosed in some groups, but it also appears to be underdiagnosed in others, for instance in young women. It is important that anyone working with young people is aware of this.