The 10-Year Follow-up Study of Girls with ADHD
Principal Investigator: Professor Stephen HinshawFunded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Young Adult Follow-up Study of Girls with ADHD is a longitudinal investigation of the developmental trajectory of girls with ADHD. In 1997, 1998, and 1999, a total of 228 girls (both ADHD-diagnosed and non-diagnosed comparisons) participated in 5-week research based summer programs. These summer programs provided a rich and naturalistic environment to examine ADHD symptoms, social interactions, comorbid problems (such as anxiety or aggression), and classroom behaviors of girls aged 6 to 12 years old. Five years after each of these summer programs, 209 girls and their families (92%) were re-assessed during assessment visits at UC Berkeley. At this time, 10 years following the programs, we currently are in the process of re-assessing this sample, who now are in early adulthood. Our 10-year Follow-up Study is examining what factors (both positive and negative) in childhood are likely to contribute to such positive outcomes as educational, social, and occupational success, as well as negative outcomes such as conduct problems, school drop out, social difficulties, and more.