Post-Partum Distress among Women with and without ADHD

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence of post-partum distress among women with ADHD. Methods: Using a large electronic health records registry, a sample of 13,588 women with and 474,789 women without ADHD (18-45 years old,) who had birth delivery records between 2010-2022 were identified. The prevalence of distress, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and stress-related disorders at six weeks and 12 months following delivery, was compared between groups. Analyses also considered the effects of other factors associated with post-partum distress, including age, race and ethnicity, as well as preexisting physical and mental health concerns. Results: Relative to women without ADHD, women with ADHD reported higher rates of depression, OCD, and stress-related disorders at six weeks and 12 months following delivery. Compared to women without ADHD, and considering the effects of race, ethnicity, age, and pre-existing mental and physical health conditions, women with ADHD were 1.14 times more likely to be diagnosed with mood disorder at six weeks post-partum and 1.21-1.24 times more likely to be diagnosed with a mood, anxiety or stress-related disorder at 12 months post-partum. Conclusion: Women with ADHD face adversity in the acute and long-term post-partum periods. Future research examining mechanisms of post-partum risk and resilience is needed to guide the development of treatments to support women with ADHD during this sensitive developmental period.

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Work Title Post-Partum Distress among Women with and without ADHD
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Dara E Babinski
  2. Kirsten Riggle
  3. Wen-Jan Tuan
Keyword
  1. ADHD
  2. post-partum
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Publication Date May 19, 2025
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.24m15724
Deposited June 02, 2025

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Updated
  • Added Creator Dara E Babinski
  • Added Creator Kirsten Riggle
  • Added Creator W Tuan
  • Updated Publisher, Publisher Identifier (DOI), Publication Date Show Changes
    Publisher
    • Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
    Publisher Identifier (DOI)
    • https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.24m15724
    Publication Date
    • 2025-01-01
  • Updated
  • Updated Description, Publication Date Show Changes
    Description
    • Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence of post-partum distress among women with ADHD.
    • Methods: Using a large electronic health records registry, a sample of 13,588 women with and 474,789 women without ADHD (18-45 years old,) who had birth delivery records between 2010-2022 were identified. The prevalence of distress, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and stress-related disorders at six weeks and 12 months following delivery, was compared between groups. Analyses also considered the effects of other factors associated with post-partum distress, including age, race and ethnicity, as well as preexisting physical and mental health concerns.
    • Results: Relative to women without ADHD, women with ADHD reported higher rates of depression, OCD, and stress-related disorders at six weeks and 12 months following delivery. Compared to women without ADHD, and considering the effects of race, ethnicity, age, and pre-existing mental and physical health conditions, women with ADHD were 1.14 times more likely to be diagnosed with mood disorder at six weeks post-partum and 1.21-1.24 times more likely to be diagnosed with a mood, anxiety or stress-related disorder at 12 months post-partum.
    • Conclusion: Women with ADHD face adversity in the acute and long-term post-partum periods. Future research examining mechanisms of post-partum risk and resilience is needed to guide the development of treatments to support women with ADHD during this sensitive developmental period.
    Publication Date
    • 2025-01-01
    • 2025-05-19
  • Updated Creator Dara E Babinski
  • Updated Creator Kirsten Riggle
  • Renamed Creator Wen-Jan Tuan Show Changes
    • W Tuan
    • Wen-Jan Tuan
  • Added ADHD pregnancy JCP_PSU scholarsphere.docx
  • Updated
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated Keyword Show Changes
    Keyword
    • ADHD , post-partum