Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and perinatal mental illness: a population-based study

Purpose — Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects ~ 2% of reproductive-aged women, yet the impact of ADHD on perinatal psychiatric outcomes remains poorly understood. We aimed to determine the risk for mental illness in pregnancy and until 1 year postpartum among pregnant people with ADHD.

Methods — In this population-based observational cohort study (2013–2024) in Ontario, Canada, we compared pregnancies with and without a history of maternal ADHD on risk of perinatal mental illness overall, by diagnostic category, and for acute care (psychiatric emergency department visits and hospitalization). We generated adjusted relative risks (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for maternal age, parity, infant sex, immigration status, income, rurality, non-ADHD preconception mental illness, and year of delivery.

Results — Among those with ADHD (n = 22,995), 50.2% were diagnosed with perinatal mental illness whereas among those without ADHD (n = 1,028,038), only 24.0% were diagnosed, an aRR of 1.35 (95%CI 1.33–1.38). ADHD was associated with elevated risk for anxiety (41.7% vs. 20.7%; aRR 1.34, 1.31–1.37), depressive (14.4% vs. 5.0%; aRR 1.65, 1.59–1.71), substance and alcohol use (6.3% vs. 1.4%; aRR 1.71, 1.61–1.80); bipolar (4.4% vs. 1.0%; aRR 2.29, 2.14–2.45) and psychotic disorders (1.2% vs. 0.3%; aRR 2.37, 2.10–2.68), as well as with psychiatric ED visits (8.2% vs. 1.6%; aRR 1.98, 1.88–2.08) and psychiatric hospitalizations (2.4% vs. 0.4%; aRR 2.26, 2.06–2.48).

Conclusions — Perinatal mental illness and the need for acute perinatal mental health care are elevated among those with ADHD, highlighting the need for targeted supports and services to enhance prevention and early identification in this group.