Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent behavioral disorder among children in the United States. Although symptoms may remit over time for some individuals diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, a significant number continue to report clinically significant impairment into adolescence and adulthood. The specific difficulties encountered by adults with ADHD are just starting to be understood and studied. In particular, the long-standing difficulties encountered by females first identified with ADHD in adulthood have apparently been greatly underreported. The goal of this article is to discuss the case of a young woman, Amanda, who is first diagnosed with ADHD after encountering difficulties during her freshman year of college. Her case demonstrates the importance of an accurate diagnosis and the benefit of a course of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy combined with standard pharmacotherapy for adult ADHD.
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