Hormones & ADHD: recent publications

Q: “What are the causes of postpartum depression? As an expectant parent with ADHD, what should I know about factors that increase risk for postpartum mood disorders? How can I protect myself after I have my baby?”The causes of postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum mood disorders are complex and combine differing sources for different people. These sources are not always fully understood.

Not available May 21? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Every month, about a week or two before menstruation, many women with ADHD experience what feels like premenstrual syndrome (PMS) — but on steroids.

The first few months after a baby is born — sometimes called the “fourth trimester” — is a critical time for the emerging parent-infant relationship. You and your newborn are rapidly adjusting to a new way of life, a reality that is often complex and unexpected.These common factors — combined with dramatic hormonal fluctuations following childbirth — can increase risk for postpartum depression (PPD) during this critical stage.Characterized by persistent and acute feelings of sadness, guilt, irritability, anxiety, and lethargy — well beyond the baby blues — PPD is a condition that interferes with your wellbeing and how you bond with your baby.

ADHD symptoms in women and girls aren’t “hidden” or “easy to miss.” They are obvious, persistent, and often quite serious. Why, then, do we continue to disregard or misdiagnose ADHD in girls and women? And why do we more accurately diagnose boys, who get a head start of about four years on treatment?1The reason: ADHD is still viewed from a largely male-centric point of view.

What do fluctuating hormones across the menstrual cycle mean for my ADHD symptoms and treatment? What do I need to know, and what should I expect?For girls, women, and naturally cycling individuals with ADHD, fluctuating estrogen and progesterone across the menstrual cycle invariably impact ADHD symptoms, emotions, and functioning. We know this to be true, but there is almost no research validating this relationship.

Q: “I heard that women with ADHD who take hormonal birth control are at greater risk for depression. Is this true? I’m exploring birth control options and want to make sure I understand the risks and possible side effects of hormonal birth control.”Yes, our research group found that women with ADHD were five times more likely to develop depression following use of combined hormonal oral contraceptives (i.e., pills that contain both estrogen and progesterone) than were women without ADHD who were not on these pills.1 We came to these findings after comparing Swedish national register data of roughly 30,000 girls and young women with ADHD to more than 760,000 neurotypical peers in a control group.More highlights from this study:[Get This Free Download: Hormones & ADHD in Women]What could explain the increased risk for depression among women with ADHD who take birth control? The way we see it, it’s probably not the hormones in oral contraceptives, per se, that place women with ADHD at greater risk.

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who have ADHD? The science, unfortunately, is simply not there. Despite increased and hugely warranted interest, there are no studies that specifically examine menopause in females with ADHD.