Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson Revisiting the groundbreaking Berkeley Girls study
5 snips
Aug 28, 2025 
Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, a leading psychologist and head of the Berkeley Girls study, sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges girls with ADHD face. He discusses the devastating findings of the study, particularly regarding self-esteem and the stigma surrounding ADHD. The conversation also touches on the rising diagnoses among women and the need for better understanding and support. Listeners are urged to embrace their diagnoses for self-acceptance while addressing the systemic biases in ADHD research that have left girls underserved.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Longitudinal Proof ADHD Affects Girls
- The Berkeley Girls (BeGals) study followed 228 girls, 140 with ADHD, across decades to adulthood.
- This longitudinal design produced transformative data showing ADHD in girls is real and long-lasting.
Girls Show More Internalizing Risks
- Girls with ADHD share features with boys but are more likely to develop internalizing problems over time.
- Hinshaw reports shocking rates of attempted suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury in the dataset.
Combined Type Carries Greatest Risk
- ADHD presents as inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined types with distinct risks.
- BeGals found the combined type carried the highest rate of negative outcomes like self-harm and attempts.
