{
  "id": 17084541,
  "title": "Hidden ADHD common in women seeking treatment for depression and anxiety",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/hidden-adhd-common-in-women-seeking-treatment-for-depression-and",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-29T16:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/hidden-adhd-common-in-women-seeking-treatment-for-depression-and-anxiety/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study has found that nearly one in five women seeking treatment for depression or anxiety may also be suffering from undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research, published in The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, sheds light on how the overlapping symptoms of ADHD can mask the presence of this attention condition in adult women. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which often persist from childhood into adulthood. Contrary to historical clinical practice, ADHD is now diagnosed in both males and females at a more balanced rate, with women frequently exhibiting less pronounced, internalizing symptoms such as emotional sensitivity or restlessness. These internal struggles are often mistaken for mood or anxiety disorders. The study, conducted by psychiatrists Hazal Yavuzlar Civan and Tonguc Demir Berkol at the Bakirkoy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery in Istanbul, Turkey, aimed to examine how ADHD manifests in women already seeking help for mood issues and to explore whether hyperfocus, a common ADHD trait, could aid in distinguishing these conditions. The researchers analyzed data from 170 female patients at outpatient psychiatric clinics. Those scoring above the clinical threshold for depression or anxiety were further assessed using the Wender Utah Rating Scale for childhood ADHD traits, a screening tool for adult ADHD symptoms, and the Hyperfocus Scale. A structured clinical interview by a trained psychiatrist led to diagnoses based on standard psychiatric guidelines. The findings reveal that 33 of the participants met the criteria for ADHD, with 15 of them having no prior diagnosis. Women with ADHD often display more subtle symptoms like emotional sensitivity or internal restlessness, which are easily mistaken for mood or anxiety disorders. Unlike women without ADHD, those with the condition reported more disciplinary issues in school, frequent job changes, and a higher prevalence of family members with ADHD. While the rates of suicide attempts did not significantly differ between the two groups, women with ADHD reported higher current suicidal thoughts and feelings of failure. The study also highlights that women with ADHD often experience more severe suicidal thoughts and a greater sense of personal failure compared to those with only mood or anxiety disorders. Notably, women with ADHD reported distinct life experiences, including more disciplinary problems in school, frequent job changes, and a higher likelihood of having family members with ADHD. The researchers suggest that social anxiety in women with ADHD may be exacerbated by ADHD-related executive dysfunction, impairing their ability to plan, organize, and interpret social cues, leading to repeated interpersonal failures and feelings of shame. The study found that women with ADHD did not show a direct correlation between hyperfocus and the severity of their mood or anxiety symptoms, indicating that hyperfocus may serve different roles depending on the diagnosis. In ADHD, hyperfocus can act as a coping mechanism, while in mood disorders, it often manifests as a maladaptive trait.",
  "summary": "Nearly one in five women seeking psychiatric help for anxiety or depression also meet the criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to new research highlighting how overlapping symptoms obscure accurate diagnoses.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}