ADHD Lifecourse Lab

Researchers uncover link between ADHD and severe premenstrual disorder in women

Read more about the study at:

📄QMUL: www.qmul.ac.uk/sbbs/news/it...

🗞️The Independent: www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...

4. More broadly it urges further research into the interaction between ADHD and hormonal changes to reduce diagnostic bias and improve gender equity in mental-health.

3. The study calls for PMDD screenings in women with ADHD and those with high ADHD symptom levels, particularly if comorbid depression or anxiety is present.

2. Hormonal sensitivity may be a relevant mechanism, with implications across times of hormonal change like puberty, menstruation, the perinatal period and menopause.

Findings highlight:

1. The need for greater awareness of the heightened risk of PMDD in women with ADHD.

3️⃣ The highest risk was among women with ADHD with comorbid depression or anxiety with  ≈ 4.5x increased risk.

The results:

1️⃣ Women with a clinical ADHD diagnosis were ≈ 3× more likely to meet criteria for provisional PMDD. 

2️⃣Women with high ADHD symptom levels (identified through ASRS screening) were ≈ 4× more likely more likely to meet criteria for provisional PMDD.

3. In this cross-sectional online survey of over 700 UK women, researchers assessed ADHD diagnosis and symptom levels (via the ASRS), PMDD symptoms, and comorbid depression and anxiety.

2. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder occurring in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, associated with marked distress and functional impairment - its relationship with ADHD has rarely been examined.

1. Although ADHD is increasingly recognised in women, links between ADHD and hormone-related mental health conditions remain under-explored.

🧠 🌸 New study: Broughton et al from Queen Mary University of London: ‘Increased risk of provisional premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) among females with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): cross-sectional survey study’: short-url.org/1hzHW

A thread summarising the study ⬇️

Check out this new Mental Elf blog on a recent paper by our postdoc Thomas Broughton, exploring ADHD and PMDD risk 👉

Original paper: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Thank you @drjengunter.bsky.social for highlighting this important topic on your always interesting and very informative Substack!

Our lab lead Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais spoke at the British Menopause Society Annual Conference last week on the links between ADHD and menopause.

It was great to hear clinicians in the room share their experiences supporting women through this often-overlooked transition 🙌 #ADHD #Menopause #bmsconf25

I really enjoyed being part of the Neurodivergence and Menopause panel at the annual meeting of the #BritishMenopauseSociety today, with Rebecca Charlton (@goldage.bsky.social) and Jess Agnew-Blais (@adhdlifecourselab.bsky.social). Lots of interesting Qs for us to ponder for our next steps!

📙 We had our bimonthly ADHD Research Group & Journal Club yesterday. @amandinesenequier.bsky.social presented her first PhD project on ADHD symptoms and physical activity in a UK birth cohort. @annaredly.bsky.social led Journal Club on stimulant use in menstruating women with ADHD. Thank you both!

Our team attended the 10th World Congress on ADHD in Prague last week — a brilliant few days of learning, sharing, and connecting with researchers from around the world.

We’re especially proud of Tom and Amandine, who presented their posters and represented the lab so well — amazing work! 🧠✨

Interested in a #postdoc in London investigating hormones and women w/ ADHD? @adhdlifecourselab.bsky.social Happy to supervise Marie Curie postdocs

✅ eligibility marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/post... Open to any nationality (📢 to fellow 🇺🇸 looking abroad but open to all!)

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👋 Hi Bluesky! We’re the ADHD Lifecourse Lab, a research team at @QMUL led by Dr @agnewblais.bsky.social. We study how ADHD unfolds across the lifespan, with a particular focus on women and girls. Follow us for study updates, publications, and research highlights.
🔗 www.adhdlifelab.com.

Had a great time at the Hidden in Plain Sight conference in Nottingham last week, organised by Dr Blandine French, Michelle Beckett & Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais. Powerful day of clinical, research and lived-experience perspectives on ADHD in women&girls. Hoping it marks the start of an annual tradition🙌

The ART team really enjoyed the "Hidden in Plain Sight" conference on #ADHD in girls and women at the University of Nottingham yesterday! So many interesting and important insights from clinicians, researchers and women with lived experience.

7/7 💫 That’s all from us for now — thanks for reading!

Make sure to follow us here and on Instagram @adhdlifecourselab for more updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and more on our ADHD research.

Until next time,
🧠 The ADHD Lifecourse Lab Team

6/7 🗓️ Conference Coming Up!

We’re heading to the University of Nottingham for 'Hidden in Plain Sight: Research and Clinical Update on ADHD in Girls and Women' — a conference organised by Dr. Blandine French, Michelle Beckett, and our own Dr. Jessica Agnew-Blais. Excited to learn, connect and share!

5/7 📚 Journal Club at KCL

Our postdoc, Dr. Thomas Broughton recently led a Journal Club session with the ADHD Research Group at King’s College London, presenting a paper on sex differences in ADHD. Thought-provoking discussion all around!

4/7 🌈 PHURI Women’s Health Research Workshop

Dr. Jessica Agnew-Blais also spoke at the PHURI Women’s Health Research Workshop at QMUL, presenting on ADHD in women over the life course.

A great opportunity to share our work with researchers across different areas of women’s health at QMUL.

a group of women 's hands making a heart shape with the words women 's day below it ALT: a group of women 's hands making a heart shape with the words women 's day below it

3/7 💜 A belated Happy International Women’s Day! 💐

To mark International Women’s Day, Dr. Jessica Agnew-Blais gave a talk on Understanding ADHD in Women as part of Queen Mary’s Faculty of Science and Engineering celebrations. We’re proud to be part of the growing conversation around women and ADHD.

2/7 💬 Neurodiversity Celebration Week

We're proud to see Dr. Thomas Broughton join a fantastic panel of experts at QMUL's Neurodiversity Celebration Week. It was a brilliant discussion on neurodivergent voices in research and education, and promoting better support for youth during key transitions.

1/7 🌼 Welcome to Our Third ADHD Lifecourse Lab Newsletter, and our first post on bluesky!

As we head into spring, we’re excited to share what the team’s been up to over the past few months— from talks and workshops to journal clubs and upcoming conferences. Catch up on all the latest below 👇