Postpartum window reveals hidden ADHD in mothers, Danish study finds

A Danish population-based cohort study of 363,904 mothers (2010–2018) finds ADHD diagnoses dip during pregnancy (about 72% lower than pre-pregnancy) but rise in the years after childbirth, with incidence 24% higher than pre-pregnancy two to five years postpartum (IRR 1.24) and peaking around 4–5 years postpartum. More than half of postpartum ADHD cases had prior psychiatric treatment, suggesting comorbidity or misdiagnosis, and highlighting the postpartum period as a key window for ADHD screening and support.