ERIC Number: EJ1471297
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-0547
EISSN: EISSN-1557-1246
Available Date: 0000-00-00
A Review of Sex and Gender Factors in Stimulant Treatment for ADHD: Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions
Journal of Attention Disorders, v29 n8 p602-616 2025
Objective: Stimulant medications are the primary pharmacological intervention for ADHD, yet our understanding of how sex and gender impact stimulant treatment outcomes remains limited. Clinical guidelines do not differ for female and male individuals despite possible sex and gender-related differences in effectiveness, adverse events, and pharmacokinetics. This theoretical framework identifies five key knowledge gaps relating to sex and gender effects in stimulant treatment. Method: We investigate the stimulant treatment trajectories of girls and women with ADHD from diagnosis and prescription to daily use and outcomes. We examine the impact of reproductive life transitions and hormonal fluctuations and their interactions with gender socialization and gendered expectations on treatment effectiveness, stigma, and adherence. Results: By synthesizing existing literature, proposing testable predictions, and suggesting future research directions, we highlight the urgent need for studies that systematically investigate these factors. Conclusion: Addressing these gaps could significantly improve treatment outcomes for girls and women with ADHD, particularly during biological and gender role transitions.developmental
Descriptors: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Gender Differences, Physiology, Stimulants, Drug Therapy, Outcomes of Treatment, Futures (of Society), Females, Clinical Diagnosis, Social Bias, Compliance (Psychology), Developmental Stages, Sex Role, Socialization, Medical Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; 2University of Groningen, The Netherlands; 3Accare Child Study Center, Groningen, The Netherlands