Comorbidities
Common Comorbidities of ADHD
CHILDREN - Let’s dive quickly into the information coming out of the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NCSH). It found that about a third of kids with ADHD had one other condition going on, 16% had two, and 18% were dealing with three or more. Now, when you compare that to kids without ADHD, it's clear that having ADHD often comes with a whole bunch of other stuff too. Among these extra challenges, a study by Elia and colleagues in 2008 pointed out some common ones. Turns out, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) took the top spot, showing up in a whopping 41% of cases. After that, it was Minor Depression/Dysthymia (MDDD) at 22%, and then Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) at 15%. These numbers really emphasize how ADHD isn't just about attention issues—it's a whole package deal that needs to be addressed comprehensively for kids to get the support they need. (Sources: 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NCSH); Elia et al., 2008)
ADULTS - Let’s look at the findings from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). It turns out that adults with ADHD often have a lot more going on compared to those without it. For example, they're way more likely to struggle with mood disorders—about 38.3% of them, compared to just 11.1% of adults without ADHD. Anxiety disorders are another biggie, affecting around 47.1% of adults with ADHD, versus only 19.5% of those without it. Plus, ADHD is linked to higher rates of substance abuse, like alcohol and drug dependence.
And get this: Both adults and kids with ADHD are more likely to deal with obesity than those without ADHD. These stats really drive home the importance of addressing all these extra challenges alongside ADHD itself for effective management. (Sources: Kessler et al., 2006; Cortese, 2015; Pagoto, 2009)
What about ADHD & ASD?
Alright, let's unpack the findings from this meta-analysis about ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comorbidity (Rong, Ying, et al., 2021).
So, check it out: this study is the first of its kind to look at both the current and lifetime prevalence of ADHD in people with ASD. And what they found is pretty eye-opening. Turns out, about 38.5% of folks with ASD are currently dealing with ADHD, and a whopping 40.2% have experienced ADHD at some point in their lives.
But here's where things get really interesting: it seems like factors such as age, intellectual disability, where people were recruited from, and even how ADHD and ASD were diagnosed can all play a role in these numbers.
Now, when we look at the big picture, these findings underscore just how common it is for folks with ASD to also have ADHD.
What is the connection between ADHD and Trauma?
Emerging research suggests a strong connection between trauma, traumatic stress, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). The impact of trauma and adversity can reshape the brain's structure, particularly in children, potentially contributing to the onset of ADHD.
Complicating matters, both ADHD and trauma often manifest similar symptoms, posing challenges for accurate assessment. When combined with ADHD, trauma has the potential to intensify ADHD symptoms. Conversely, ADHD itself may heighten the likelihood of experiencing traumatic events.
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