Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsADHD vs. DepressionHow They ConnectDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
ADHD vs. Depression
How They Connect
Diagnosis
Treatment
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) anddepressionare commonly comorbid (occurring together in the same person). Although ADHD is not thought to cause depression directly, people with ADHD often have low self-esteem and poor social skills, which are known risk factors for depression.
Treatment for comorbid ADHD and depression may include a combination of stimulant and antidepressant medications. Many people with comorbid ADHD and depression also find that talk therapy, such ascognitive behavioral therapy(CBT), is helpful.
This article discusses the link between ADHD and depression. It covers the signs and symptoms of comorbid ADHD and depression, along with how these conditions are treated together.
Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorderis a mental health condition affecting children, but it may also continue into adulthood. Signs of ADHD are categorized as symptoms ofinattentionorhyperactivityandimpulsiveness. They include:
Depressionis more than feeling sad. People living with depression can experience a wide range of symptoms. Many of these symptoms overlap with ADHD. This may make it difficult for a person to identify which symptoms are associated with which condition.
Signs of depression include:
What Is Depression?
The Link Between ADHD and Depression
ADHD and depression are commonly co-occurring conditions. It’s said that the nature of childhood ADHD, with its effect on emotions, behaviors, and ways of learning and socializing, can lead to later experiences of depression.
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children is an ongoing study that’s been collecting data since September 1990. The study, which involves 2,950 children and their parents, has shown that children with ADHD symptoms in childhood have a greater risk of developing depression later in life.
There are biological or chemical links between ADHD and depression, too. It’s said that ADHD is associated with dopamine dysregulation.Dopamineis the neurotransmitter that is largely responsible for a person’s personal drive, motivation, and reward.
Abnormalities in dopamine can make goals harder to realize, which can lead to feelings of lowself-esteem, worthlessness, and guilt for not living up to societal expectations. This can, in turn, influence feelings of depression.
ADHD and Other Conditions
Nearly half of people with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder.Anxiety may be a separate condition or it may develop as a result of living with ADHD.
In addition to anxiety disorders and depression, disorders that most commonly co-occur with ADHD are:
People with ADHD are more likely to have overlapping learning disorders, as well. Common comorbid learning disorders in children with ADHD includedyscalculia, a disorder that affects mathematical skills, anddyslexia, a disorder that affects reading skills.
Can Adderall Help Relieve Anxiety?
Is It ADHD, Depression, or Both?
ADHD and depression are two very different conditions that can cause some overlapping symptoms, like irritability and difficulty concentrating.
Key differences between the two conditions that can helppsychiatristsmake a diagnosis include:
An adult experiencing depressive symptoms may be diagnosed with comorbid ADHD if they had ADHD symptoms in childhood that preceded the onset of depression.
Reach Out to a Mental Health ProfessionalOnly a doctor can provide a diagnosis of ADHD and/or depression. If you have been diagnosed with one condition and are wondering if you have the other, consider reaching out to a mental health professional such as apsychiatristorpsychologistfor further assessment.
Reach Out to a Mental Health Professional
Only a doctor can provide a diagnosis of ADHD and/or depression. If you have been diagnosed with one condition and are wondering if you have the other, consider reaching out to a mental health professional such as apsychiatristorpsychologistfor further assessment.
How Is ADHD Diagnosed?
How Depression Is Diagnosed
Treatment for Coexisting ADHD and Depression
People with coexisting ADHD and depression have treatment options that include:
There is no cure for ADHD, but with treatment, it can be effectively managed and symptoms can be reduced to a point where everyday functioning is restored.
Depression, on the other hand, can ebb and flow throughout a person’s life. While there are effective treatments to reduce symptoms of depression, it can return. This doesn’t mean treatment failed, but it does mean a different approach may be necessary.
Summary
ADHD and depression are commonly coexisting conditions with some overlapping symptoms. The link between the two is complex. It involves biological factors such as dopamine dysregulation, but also social and environmental factors including the way ADHD may limit a person’s self-esteem development. Treatment for both is available and includes medications, therapies, and social support.
16 Sources
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