Sentrale utfordringer i diagnostikk av ADHD hos kvinner – En narrativ litteraturgjennomgang

This narrative literature review aimed to investigate factors influencing the identification of ADHD symptoms in girls and women and to propose strategies, developed by the authors based on the reviewed evidence, to address these factors. A search in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science (WoS), limited to 2021 to 2024, using specific terms related to ADHD and gender differences, yielded 1,729 articles. After removing duplicates and irrelevant articles, 60 were reviewed. Three key factors were identified: (a) caregivers, teachers, and health personnel have insufficient knowledge of gender differences in symptom presentation; (b) differential diagnostic challenges and symptoms overlap; and (c) symptom masking. Our recommendations include: (a) incorporating gender-specific symptom descriptions in ADHD assessment guidelines; (b) recognising that ADHD-related functional impairment is not limited to academic underachievement; and (c) the need for developing better tools to identify and assess symptom masking.