The study, published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, is based on data from roughly 12,000 women with an ADHD diagnosis. The researchers compared pregnancy and birth outcomes between women with and without ADHD between the years 2006 and 2020.
When the researchers adjusted for age, education, psychiatric diagnoses and smoking, a difference remained:
– Women with ADHD had a slightly higher probability of giving birth by planned caesarean section. The difference remained even after we took other factors into account. ADHD itself was thus linked to an increased proportion of planned cesarean sections, says Anneli Andersson, one of the researchers behind the study.
The risks looked different when comorbidities were included
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Previous studies have pointed to several childbirth-related risks for women with ADHD. The new study shows that many of these associations disappear when comorbidities and lifestyle factors are taken into account.
– Premature birth and other complications can be explained by other psychiatric diagnoses and smoking – not by ADHD, says Andersson.
Comorbidity is common in the group. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse occur more often in women who have ADHD.
The children are often larger than expected
The researchers found that children of women with ADHD were more likely to be larger than expected for the length of pregnancy. It may be related to the more common planned cesarean sections.
– We cannot determine the cause, but since the fetus often grows more than normal, it can affect the decision about a planned caesarean section. It could therefore be about medical reasons linked to the child’s size, says Anneli Andersson.
Gives a more nuanced picture
According to the researchers, the study provides a more complete picture than previous research, as it is based on clinical diagnoses rather than drug use.
– The result means that we need to nuance the view of risks linked to ADHD and pregnancy. Hopefully it can calm women who have an ADHD diagnosis, says Andersson.
Wish for changes in care
The research group wants the results to contribute to a broader perspective in maternal health care.
– We hope that it will be seen that ADHD in itself is not a strong risk factor for most obstetric complications. Comorbidity and lifestyle factors often play a greater role, says Andersson.
She highlights the need for early screening and interventions:
– Women with ADHD often need extra support. It is about detecting and treating anxiety, depression and substance use in time. And about offering support around lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation, she says.