A new study published in BMC Psychiatry has found that women with ADHD are more likely to engage in risky behavior compared to their male counterparts, highlighting the importance of considering sex-specific differences in the treatment and understanding of ADHD.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects individuals across all ages. While males are more frequently diagnosed in childhood, females with ADHD tend to be overlooked or diagnosed later in life, partly because symptoms often present differently. Specifically, males typically display hyperactive or impulsive behavior, while females are more likely to experience emotional dysregulation and internalized symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.
The study, conducted by a team of international researchers, sought to explore how these differences extend into adulthood. Led by Alexandra Philipsen and Silke Lux from the University of Bonn in Germany, the research team examined how emotional differences impact risky decision-making behavior in adults with ADHD. They were particularly interested in understanding the physiological and behavioral interactions that drive these differences.
The study involved 29 adults with ADHD (16 males and 13 females) and 33 healthy controls (14 males and 19 females), all between the ages of 18 and 60. Participants performed a modified version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), which is designed to measure risk-taking behavior.
In the task, participants viewed a balloon on a screen that inflated automatically. A larger balloon increased potential monetary earnings but also increased the risk of the balloon exploding, which would result in losing all the money collected.
During the task, researchers recorded skin conductance responses (SCR) to assess physiological changes associated with emotional arousal. “Changes in skin conductance represent unconscious processes before a decision is actually made,” the authors explained.
Additionally, participants completed questionnaires to evaluate their emotional competence (e.g., recognizing their own feelings), risk perception (i.e., attitudes toward risk), and sensitivity to feedback (i.e., punishment or reward).
The findings revealed that women with ADHD engaged in significantly more risky behavior during the BART compared to men with ADHD. This increased risk-taking was not observed in the control group, indicating a unique interaction between sex and ADHD in influencing decision-making behavior. Interestingly, there were no significant sex differences in the physiological responses measured by SCR.
Further analysis of the self-assessment questionnaires indicated that women with ADHD reported lower sensitivity to their own risky behaviors, suggesting a potential disconnect between their self-perception and actual tendencies.
Some limitations should be noted. For instance, participants were required to stop taking ADHD medication 24 hours before the study, but residual effects could still have influenced the findings.
Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into sex-specific differences in ADHD. The researchers emphasize the need for more tailored approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, taking into account the unique challenges faced by women.
The study, “Sex differences in physiological correlates of affectively driven decision-making behavior in adult ADHD,” was authored by Eva Halbe, Alina Sophie Heger, Fabian Kolf, Philippa Hüpen, Moritz Bergmann, Ben J. Harrison, Christopher G. Davey, Alexandra Philipsen, and Silke Lux.