ADHD With Comorbid Anxiety

Abstract

Objective/Method: ADHD is often comorbid with anxiety disorders, with rates approaching 25% in many samples. This current review’s goal is to examine the literature on ADHD with comorbid anxiety from 1998 to the present. Results: Recent studies indicate that anxiety in ADHD may a) partially inhibit the impulsivity and response inhibition deficits, b) make working memory deficits worse, and c) may be qualitatively different from more phobic types of anxiety seen in pure anxiety samples. In examining subtypes of ADHD, measures of sluggish cognitive tempo show strong correlations with anxiety measures. Insights into the nature of the comorbidity between ADHD and anxiety may be gained by examining the possible comorbidity between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and ADHD, shared risk factors for ADHD and anxiety, and the current pathogenic models of ADHD. Conclusion: The article concludes with a synthesis of the above work, along with directions for future research.