Gender Differences in the Prevalence of ADHD Among Clients of Therapeutic Communities for Drug Addicts in the Czech Republic: Secondary Analysis of the Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to identify gender differences between a group with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the sample of 76 clients of therapeutic communities. The battery of tests contained three questionnaires based on ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), and Conners Teacher Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by combining a descriptive approach and sectional processes of qualitative data analysis. Women with ADHD exhibit more complications in the WURS–25 scale and (together with the women without ADHD) in ASRS. Gender differencies in ADHD-related complication in treatment were expressed on a qualitative level; severe complications occurred mainly in the men in both groups.

KEYWORDS:

• ADHD
• gender issues
• therapeutic community
• treatment complications
• treatment of drug addictions

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the teams of the therapeutic communities which participated in the pilot study for their cooperation, which allowed the execution of the research and creation of this and both previous articles. The study was significantly shortened for the purpose of publication. Detailed spreadsheet analysis of individual results is available from the authors.