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NR497
Tuesday, May 24, 3:00
p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Gender Difference in Adults With ADHD and Treated With Atomoxetine
Frederick W. Reimherr, M.D., Department of Psychiatry,
University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East, Room 5R218, Salt Lake City,
UT 84132; Reid Robison, Fred W. Reimherr, M.D., Stephen V. Faraone,
Ph.D., Barrie K. Marchant, M.S., Lenard A. Adler, M.D., Soni Poonam,
M.D.
Educational Objectives:
At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be
able to explore gender differences in adults with ADHD and help
physicians be better able to assess and treat women with ADHD.
Summary:
Introduction: ADHD children exhibit several
gender differences, a male preponderance and less females with externalizing
disorders (conduct and oppositional defiant disorder).
Objective: To examine gender differences
in a very large clinical trial of ADHD adults.
Methods: Data from two identical, placebo-controlled,
11-week studies of atomoxetine in adult ADHD (535 subjects at 31
sites) were combined. Both showed positive medication-placebo differences.
Results: Thirty percent of the population
was female, a proportion higher than found in pediatric samples.
In contrast to a predominance of inattentive ADHD subtype in female
children, these females were more frequently combined type versus
the males. Females were rated as more impaired on every measure
of ADHD symptoms including total CAARS-INV, total WRAADDS, and subscales
of both measures. Females were rated as having more emotional symptoms
on the WRAADDS emotional dimension, lifetime SCID-P psychiatric
diagnoses, HAM-A, and HAM-D. Females exhibited significantly greater
improvement on the WRAADDS emotional dimension versus the males.
There were no significant gender by treatment effects in the CAARS-INV
or CGI-S scores.
Conclusion: Females with ADHD displayed
significantly greater ADHD symptoms and emotional impairment on
multiple measures. On the WRAADDS emotional dimension they responded
better to treatment, than their male counterparts.
References:
1. Michelson D, Adler L, Spencer T, Reimherr FW, West S, Allen A,
et al: Atomoxetine in adults with ADHD: Two randomized, placebo-controlled
studies. J Biol Psych 2004; 53(2):112-20.
2. Wender PH: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults.
1995 Oxford University Press; New York; 1995..
3. Barkley R: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. SciAm1998;
279(3):66-71.
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