Girls with childhood ADHD as Adults (1 CE)

Number of credits: 1

This course is for: Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, Marriage and Family Counselors

Course By: Rachel Schoor, PhD

Course Content: Owens, E. B., Zalecki, C., Gillette, P., & Hinshaw, S. P. (2017). Girls with childhood ADHD as adults: Cross-domain outcomes by diagnostic persistence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(7), 723–736. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000217

Course Description: This paper discusses impairments from childhood-limited and adult-persisting ADHD, and the implications for the health and well-being of females with ADHD. In the present study, adolescent girls, with and without ADHD, were followed for 16 years to assess adult outcomes regarding participants’ symptoms, attainment, and impairment. Data was collected via self/parent-report questionnaires, interviews, and objective tests. Childhood ADHD was associated with worse outcomes regarding educational attainment, unplanned pregnancy, BMI, and clinician-rated impairment. Adult ADHD was associated with additional detrimental outcomes regarding externalizing, internalizing, self-injury, occupational, social, and overall impairment domains. However, ADHD was not associated with problems with employment, substance use, or driving.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the main purpose of the study and the methods related to the outcomes of women who had childhood ADHD.
2. Evaluate the data by exploring the statistical tests used in conjunction with the discussed findings.
3. Identify the study’s strengths, weaknesses, and implications.

Course Outline

• Read and understand Girls with childhood ADHD as adults: Cross-domain outcomes by diagnostic persistence
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Consider the factors related to childhood limited and adult ADHD, and the long-term outcomes
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the relationships between both child-limited and adult ADHD and participants’ long-term symptoms, attainment, and impairments.