Girls from deprived backgrounds diagnosed with ADHD face a sharply elevated risk of developing serious long-term health problems in adulthood, according to new research from the University of Glasgow.

 

The study finds that women who had both a childhood ADHD diagnosis and experienced socioeconomic deprivation were “more than twice as likely” to develop multimorbidity—defined as the presence of two or more long-term conditions—compared with those without ADHD.

 

Drawing on data from more than 120,000 women aged 18 to 32, researchers say the findings expose how childhood ADHD combined with social disadvantage can significantly shape lifelong health trajectories.

 

The analysis also reveals distinct patterns of multimorbidity. The most severe, described as pan-system multimorbidity, is marked by a high burden of both physical illness and complex mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.

 

By contrast, women without ADHD were more likely to experience multimorbidity limited primarily to physical health conditions.

 

Researchers note that ADHD in females has “been historically underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated,” meaning its long-term consequences in girls and women have often been overlooked in both clinical practice and research.

 

Dr Naomi Wilson, from the University’s School of Health and Wellbeing, said: “Our findings suggest that a combination of both ADHD and socioeconomic deprivation can amplify long-term health risks, highlighting that girls with ADHD from disadvantaged backgrounds should be considered a high-risk group that require earlier, integrated care.”

 

She added: “The findings also show that, for women with ADHD, multimorbidity may involve complex patterns of need around mental health, which has implications for how services are delivered.”

 

Dr Wilson concluded: “Overall, our study shows the need for earlier identification of ADHD in girls, with targeted interventions that address both clinical and social factors to improve the long-term health outcomes for this group.”

 

The research underscores growing concern that the intersection of neurodevelopmental conditions and social disadvantage can significantly compound health risks across the life course.