Can ADHD Cause Anxiety? An Examination of the Link Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Anxiety Disorders
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders are two common neurodevelopmental conditions that often co-occur, leading many to question if ADHD can directly cause anxiety. This article aims to elucidate the intricate relationship between these two conditions.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It typically appears during childhood and can persist into adulthood, affecting approximately 5% of the global population (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that cause feelings of fear, worry, or anxiety to persist beyond what is appropriate for the current situation. Common types include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Anxiety disorders affect around 264 million people worldwide (World Health Organization, 2018).
Research suggests that individuals with ADHD are at a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders. The underlying mechanisms for this association remain unclear but may involve shared genetic factors, impaired executive functioning, and environmental stressors (Kessler et al., 2006). Moreover, symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and contribute to the development or persistence of anxiety disorders.
While ADHD itself does not cause anxiety, it is evident that individuals with ADHD are at a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms driving this association and to develop effective interventions to address both conditions concurrently.
References:
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
- Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2006). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(6), 593–602.
- World Health Organization. (2018). Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates. Geneva: Author.