ADHD, the Gift that Keeps on Giving!

Commonly co-occurring conditions with ADHD (also how personality disorders are sexist and gender-biased)

If this is a gift, can I return it?

…Except I lost my receipt. (Because ADHD).

When I was diagnosed with ADHD, I had no idea how much of my previously misdiagnosed or misunderstood conditions were related. I had no concept of how many overlapping conditions there are, and how many of my “quirks” were actually related to ADHD.

Well, now I know.

Once you know, what can you do about it?

Firstly, we educate ourselves to better understand ourselves, or our children or partners. Information allows us to advocate for supports or accommodations, and to develop strategies that work best for us and our divergent brains.

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What are comorbidities?

Comorbidities are disorders or conditions that are commonly diagnosed together. For example, when you have ADHD, you are more likely than the general population to also have anxiety.

Co-occurring disorders can make it more challenging to receive an accurate diagnosis, to receive effective treatment, and to differentiate symptoms from one condition to the next.

The most common co-occurring conditions associated with ADHD are Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), Depression, Substance Use Disorders (SUD), and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

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Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent groups of comorbidities in people with ADHD.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the most common anxiety disorders are:

• Phobias

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Panic Disorder

• Agoraphobia

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Separation Anxiety Disorder

In the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was classified as an anxiety disorder. In the fifth and most recent edition, the DSM-V, OCD has been given its own class, Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.

Regardless of classification, OCD is also a common comorbid condition in people with ADHD and is associated with persistent thoughts and urges which cause marked anxiety or distress.

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Depression & bipolar disorder

Depression and Bipolar disorder (BD) are also highly comorbid with ADHD.