Written by: Manahil Chaudry
Edited by: Taina Stuart
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are two distinct mental health conditions that have been shown to have interactions with each other. Often, those who are diagnosed with ADHD have exacerbated symptoms from having PTSD, leading to a correlation between the two observed in recent research. There is a need to explore the relationship between the two disorders, as both can affect one’s control over their psyche.
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. These symptoms can be debilitating and significantly impact a person's daily life and overall well being. Meanwhile, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that can interfere with functioning or development. Individuals with ADHD may have difficulty focusing, controlling impulsive behaviors, or sitting still.
While PTSD and ADHD are distinct disorders, they share some common symptoms. According to an article written by CHADD, some common overlap between the two include trouble concentrating because an individual is distracted easily, memory trouble, and risky behavior (Ferrer, 2020). With this overlap, it can sometimes make it challenging to differentiate between the two disorders, leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis. It is only recently that some physicians noticed the overlap between the two disorders. For instance, the article explains the phenomenon deeper by giving an example of Sebastian, who is reported to have shown signs of ADHD because of his failure to follow direction and threatening violence. Often, therapeutic services can help alleviate symptoms. However, after meeting with Sebastian’s family, the teacher realized that his constant exposure to community violence and parental disagreements constantly resulted in the presentation of PTSD symptoms, which made the physician consider how PTSD affects the presentation of ADHD symptoms (Ferrer, 2020). This example has shown that individuals with ADHD might have symptoms similar to PTSD, which makes the physician consider how PTSD affects the presentation of ADHD symptoms. Because symptoms of both disorders are similar in nature, it can be hard for physicians to distinguish between the two, which is why physicians have to pay close attention to a patient’s behavior. In Sebastian’s case, the physician should question whether Sebastain, for instance, leaves the room because he is startled by a loud noise, which can be related to a trauma response or if it’s because he is unable to pay attention for long periods of time. Observing him in a closed environment where he is able to express his thoughts without interruption can also help determine if Sebastian does not finish his work because he fears the other students in his class (Ferrer, 2020). Ultimately, though it can be difficult for healthcare providers to distinguish PTSD and ADHD symptoms because of their similarities, examining the reasoning why a patient might experience these behaviors, such as a traumatic event, could lead to an assessment of PTSD, as in the case of Sebastian who was exposed to community violence and domestic arguments.
Comorbidity is a term used to describe having two or more disorders at the same time. In this case, a relationship has been established to show comorbidity between ADHD and PTSD. Estimates of comorbidity for these conditions are shown to be roughly 12% to 37% (Ferrer, 2020). Given the large percentage of people with both of these conditions, it is important to understand the underlying causes of this phenomenon. One reason given is the appearance of abnormal neural fear circuitry. In studies done focusing on brains of people with PTSD and ADHD, it was shown that areas of the brain like the vmPFC for later extinction learning was less active and the dACC involved in fear learning was hyperactive compared to the control groups (Biederman et al., 2023). Consequently, when the dACC is very active and the vmPFC is very inactive, it was shown that those with PTSD actively recalled their traumatic events, thereby increasing anxiety as well. As both conditions have similar effects on the brain, it is no surprise that the correlations between the two diseases are observed. Acknowledging the presence of overlapping symptoms between the two disorders allows for more accurate treatments, improving the lives of those with ADHD and PTSD.
References:
Biederman, Joseph et al (2023). The Science of Fear: Probing the Brain Circuits That Link ADHD and PTSD. ADDtitude. www.additudemag.com/adhd-ptsd-fear-circuit-deficits.
Ferrer, Michelle (2020). ADHD, PTSD, or Both?. CHADD. chadd.org/attention-article/adhd-ptsd-or-both.
Ford D, Julian and Connor F, Daniel (2009). ADHD and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Current Attention Disorders Reports, 1(2), 60-66.
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