Does ADHD co-exist with other mental disorders?

Posted on June 6, 2018

Comorbidity is common in individuals who have ADHD. Majority of the people suffering from ADHD are children, but adults can also have ADHD. Research on ADHD focuses on neurological wiring and people with ADHD are found to have unstable levels of the neurotramsmitters dopamine and norepinephrine.

Comorbidities often negatively impact the prognosis of patients with ADHD. This is due to inaccuracy in or delayed diagnosis of the comorbid disorder, as a result of the overlapping symptoms with ADHD.

There are 3 disorders that commonly co-exist with ADHD:
1) Mood Disorders
2) Conduct Issues and
3) Learning Problems.

Mood disorders, such as depression, result from rejection by their peers. Difficulty in coping also leads to immense sadness. Anxiety disorders result from the the fear of not being able to accomplish certain tasks. Early recognition of these comorbid disorders are crucial in recovery, and are preferentially treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Conduct Issues include Conduct Disorder (CD), and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). CD is identified by violence and aggression towards peers when things do not go their way, and ODD is a persistent, defiant behaviour towards peers, which is accompanied by aggression ad hostility. Behavioural therapy is useful therapy in treating Conduct Issues.

Learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Discalculia commonly co-occur with ADHD.




Category(s):Adult ADHD, Mental Health in Asia

Source material from News Medical Life Sciences