The Relationship Between Depression and ADHD

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ADHD

Depression

Comorbidity

Diagnosis

Risk Factors

Treatment

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Depression and ADHD are not the same thing. However, there is often overlap between the two. They can also occur at the same time.

If you’ve been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression, you might wonder what this means for you in terms of prognosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your situation.

At a GlanceDepression and ADHD are distinct, but they are sometimes connected. People who have ADHD are more likely to experience depression. People with ADHD sometimes experience low mood, poor self-esteem, and other problems with self-image because their traits make it more challenging to manage the expectations of a neurotypical society.If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it is important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional about how you are feeling.

At a Glance

Depression and ADHD are distinct, but they are sometimes connected. People who have ADHD are more likely to experience depression. People with ADHD sometimes experience low mood, poor self-esteem, and other problems with self-image because their traits make it more challenging to manage the expectations of a neurotypical society.If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it is important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional about how you are feeling.

Depression and ADHD are distinct, but they are sometimes connected. People who have ADHD are more likely to experience depression. People with ADHD sometimes experience low mood, poor self-esteem, and other problems with self-image because their traits make it more challenging to manage the expectations of a neurotypical society.

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it is important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional about how you are feeling.

What Is ADHD?

Before we start to disentangle the complex relationship between depression and ADHD, it’s important to understand individually what is involved with each diagnosis.

ADHDis a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means that it is present from childhood and persists throughout your lifetime. It is important to note that it is considered a disability because we live in a neurotypical-oriented society.

People with ADHD may exhibit what is called anexecutive functiondeficit: they struggle to follow tasks through to completion and easily become disorganized, missing appointments and losing their things.

ADHD is usually identified in childhood and can be categorized into three different presentations.

Inattentive

Hyperactive-Impulsive

People with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD have a constant feeling of being restless, may say things spontaneously without thinking first, and find it hard to stay still (such as sitting in a classroom for lessons).

Combination of Inattentive and Hyperactive-Impulsive

People with the combined presentation will experience both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive characteristics.

What to Know About ADHD Combined Type

What Is Depression?

Depressionis more than just sadness or a case of the blues. Many people experience recurrent episodes that can last anywhere from weeks to months or longer.

Some of the most common symptoms of depression include:

Depression can make it hard to do everyday tasks like going to work or school, taking care of your personal hygiene, and eating healthy meals. It is also a life-threatening illness when it is severe and leads to suicidal ideation.

Overlap of Depression and ADHD

How do depression and ADHD overlap? We know that these are comorbid conditions, which means that when you are diagnosed with one, the odds of you also being diagnosed with the other are higher.

Below are some facts on the overlap of ADHD and depression:

Furthermore, in a study that examined data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, it was found that rates of ADHD were higher among those who had severe depression, chronic depression, early-onset depression, or comorbid anxiety. This suggests a strong relationship between ADHD and depression.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Is It ADHD or Depression?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell ADHD and depression apart. This is because there are overlapping symptoms, but also because some ADHD medications can cause side effects that mimic depression such as loss of appetite or sleeping difficulties.

While both ADHD and depression involve issues related to mood, concentration, and motivation, they do differ.

Mood

With ADHD, you may experience temporarymood lability(which means rapid and sometimes dramatic changes in mood) all the way back to childhood. In depression, on the other hand, these mood episodes usually first appear in the teens or later.

While these mood shifts tend to be short-lived with ADHD, people with depression will have them for at least weeks or months.

Motivation

If you have ADHD, you probably know that you often feel motivated when something grabs your interest. When you are depressed, however, doing anything at all can be incredibly hard. Even if it’s something that used to hold your interest, you just can’t find the energy or motivation to care.

Sleep

ADHD can make it feel like your mind is always “on.” This means you often feel like you have tons of energy, but it can also make it more difficult to settle down at night and sleep. Feeling depressed also makes it hard to sleep, but that’s often due to negative thoughts and insomnia. Depression may also cause you to wake up through the night or may sleep too long.

Course

ADHD is lifelong. Thetraits and characteristicsmay change somewhat over time, but it doesn’t just “go away.” Major depression symptoms, on the other hand, tend to last for a certain period before often improving to a normal level of functioning.

Risk Factors for Comorbid ADHD and Depression

There are certain factors that might increase your risk of having comorbid ADHD and depression? Some of these include:

Treatment for Overlapping ADHD and Depression

What types of treatment are offered if you have overlapping ADHD and depression? It really depends on your particular situation.

In general, the approach is to work on the condition that is most impairing first. While therapy can address both issues at once, often medication is prescribed for one condition and then the other.

Medications

What medications might you be prescribed? Below is a list of some options you might be given:

Stimulants

Stimulants such asAdderall(amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) may be prescribed for ADHD. Stimulants help to increase brain chemicals that improve focus. However, they can have side effects such as loss of appetite or trouble sleeping.

Nonstimulants

Nonstimulants such as Strattera (atomoxetine) may also be prescribed for ADHD.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants may be prescribed for depression includingWellbutrin(bupropion), which can also help relieve symptoms of ADHD. Antidepressants can take several weeks before you will know if they are working.

Therapy

Psychotherapy for ADHD aims at improving focus and building self-esteem, while therapy for depression may target identifying and replacing negative thoughts and behaviors (which may also be helpful for ADHD).

One study found that adult ADHDers who received extensive psychotherapy were less likely to have ruminative thinking. They were also more resilient to episodes of depression.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Lifestyle Changes

What can you do on your own to improve your ADHD and depression? The basics are most important: eat healthy meals, exercise regularly (aerobic exercise is also important if you have ADHD), and practice good sleep hygiene.

Another good strategy is to prevent boredom if you have ADHD, as this can worsen your mood.

One way to accomplish this is to keep an “interest closet” or another spot in your home where you store activities you can do when you are bored. Add things like books you want to read, crafts you want to do, andpodcastsyou want to listen to. This way you can also find something to grab your interest and alleviate boredom.

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10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Powell V, Riglin L, Hammerton G, et al.What explains the link between childhood ADHD and adolescent depression? Investigating the role of peer relationships and academic attainment.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;29(11):1581-1591. doi:10.1007/s00787-019-01463-wBron TI, Bijlenga D, Verduijn J, Penninx BW, Beekman AT, Kooij JJ.Prevalence of ADHD symptoms across clinical stages of major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;197:29-35. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.02.053Riglin L, Leppert B, Dardani C, et al.ADHD and depression: investigating a causal explanation.Psychol Med. 2021;51(11):1890-1897. doi:10.1017/S0033291720000665Van Eck K, Ballard E, Hart S, Newcomer A, Musci R, Flory K.ADHD and suicidal ideation: The roles of emotion regulation and depressive symptoms among college students.J Atten Disord. 2015;19(8):703-714. doi:10.1177/1087054713518238Solberg BS, Halmøy A, Engeland A, Igland J, Haavik J, Klungsøyr K.Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity: a population-based study of 40 000 adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;137(3):176-186. doi:10.1111/acps.12845Rajendran K, O’Neill S, Halperin JM.Inattention symptoms predict level of depression in early childhood.Postgrad Med. 2013;125(1):154-161. doi:10.3810/pgm.2013.01.2630Chronis-Tuscano A, Molina BS, Pelham WE, et al.Very early predictors of adolescent depression and suicide attempts in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(10):1044-1051. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.127Chang Z, D’Onofrio BM, Quinn PD, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H.Medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and risk for depression: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.Biological Psychiatry. 2016;80(12):916-922. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.02.018Nazarova VA, Sokolov AV, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Schiöth HB.Treatment of ADHD: Drugs, psychological therapies, devices, complementary and alternative methods as well as the trends in clinical trials.Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1066988. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1066988Oddo LE, Knouse LE, Surman CBH, Safren SA.Investigating resilience to depression in adults with ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(5):497-505. doi:10.1177/1087054716636937

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Powell V, Riglin L, Hammerton G, et al.What explains the link between childhood ADHD and adolescent depression? Investigating the role of peer relationships and academic attainment.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;29(11):1581-1591. doi:10.1007/s00787-019-01463-wBron TI, Bijlenga D, Verduijn J, Penninx BW, Beekman AT, Kooij JJ.Prevalence of ADHD symptoms across clinical stages of major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;197:29-35. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.02.053Riglin L, Leppert B, Dardani C, et al.ADHD and depression: investigating a causal explanation.Psychol Med. 2021;51(11):1890-1897. doi:10.1017/S0033291720000665Van Eck K, Ballard E, Hart S, Newcomer A, Musci R, Flory K.ADHD and suicidal ideation: The roles of emotion regulation and depressive symptoms among college students.J Atten Disord. 2015;19(8):703-714. doi:10.1177/1087054713518238Solberg BS, Halmøy A, Engeland A, Igland J, Haavik J, Klungsøyr K.Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity: a population-based study of 40 000 adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;137(3):176-186. doi:10.1111/acps.12845Rajendran K, O’Neill S, Halperin JM.Inattention symptoms predict level of depression in early childhood.Postgrad Med. 2013;125(1):154-161. doi:10.3810/pgm.2013.01.2630Chronis-Tuscano A, Molina BS, Pelham WE, et al.Very early predictors of adolescent depression and suicide attempts in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(10):1044-1051. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.127Chang Z, D’Onofrio BM, Quinn PD, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H.Medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and risk for depression: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.Biological Psychiatry. 2016;80(12):916-922. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.02.018Nazarova VA, Sokolov AV, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Schiöth HB.Treatment of ADHD: Drugs, psychological therapies, devices, complementary and alternative methods as well as the trends in clinical trials.Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1066988. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1066988Oddo LE, Knouse LE, Surman CBH, Safren SA.Investigating resilience to depression in adults with ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(5):497-505. doi:10.1177/1087054716636937

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Powell V, Riglin L, Hammerton G, et al.What explains the link between childhood ADHD and adolescent depression? Investigating the role of peer relationships and academic attainment.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;29(11):1581-1591. doi:10.1007/s00787-019-01463-wBron TI, Bijlenga D, Verduijn J, Penninx BW, Beekman AT, Kooij JJ.Prevalence of ADHD symptoms across clinical stages of major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;197:29-35. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.02.053Riglin L, Leppert B, Dardani C, et al.ADHD and depression: investigating a causal explanation.Psychol Med. 2021;51(11):1890-1897. doi:10.1017/S0033291720000665Van Eck K, Ballard E, Hart S, Newcomer A, Musci R, Flory K.ADHD and suicidal ideation: The roles of emotion regulation and depressive symptoms among college students.J Atten Disord. 2015;19(8):703-714. doi:10.1177/1087054713518238Solberg BS, Halmøy A, Engeland A, Igland J, Haavik J, Klungsøyr K.Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity: a population-based study of 40 000 adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;137(3):176-186. doi:10.1111/acps.12845Rajendran K, O’Neill S, Halperin JM.Inattention symptoms predict level of depression in early childhood.Postgrad Med. 2013;125(1):154-161. doi:10.3810/pgm.2013.01.2630Chronis-Tuscano A, Molina BS, Pelham WE, et al.Very early predictors of adolescent depression and suicide attempts in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(10):1044-1051. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.127Chang Z, D’Onofrio BM, Quinn PD, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H.Medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and risk for depression: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.Biological Psychiatry. 2016;80(12):916-922. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.02.018Nazarova VA, Sokolov AV, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Schiöth HB.Treatment of ADHD: Drugs, psychological therapies, devices, complementary and alternative methods as well as the trends in clinical trials.Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1066988. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1066988Oddo LE, Knouse LE, Surman CBH, Safren SA.Investigating resilience to depression in adults with ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(5):497-505. doi:10.1177/1087054716636937

Powell V, Riglin L, Hammerton G, et al.What explains the link between childhood ADHD and adolescent depression? Investigating the role of peer relationships and academic attainment.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;29(11):1581-1591. doi:10.1007/s00787-019-01463-w

Bron TI, Bijlenga D, Verduijn J, Penninx BW, Beekman AT, Kooij JJ.Prevalence of ADHD symptoms across clinical stages of major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;197:29-35. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.02.053

Riglin L, Leppert B, Dardani C, et al.ADHD and depression: investigating a causal explanation.Psychol Med. 2021;51(11):1890-1897. doi:10.1017/S0033291720000665

Van Eck K, Ballard E, Hart S, Newcomer A, Musci R, Flory K.ADHD and suicidal ideation: The roles of emotion regulation and depressive symptoms among college students.J Atten Disord. 2015;19(8):703-714. doi:10.1177/1087054713518238

Solberg BS, Halmøy A, Engeland A, Igland J, Haavik J, Klungsøyr K.Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity: a population-based study of 40 000 adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2018;137(3):176-186. doi:10.1111/acps.12845

Rajendran K, O’Neill S, Halperin JM.Inattention symptoms predict level of depression in early childhood.Postgrad Med. 2013;125(1):154-161. doi:10.3810/pgm.2013.01.2630

Chronis-Tuscano A, Molina BS, Pelham WE, et al.Very early predictors of adolescent depression and suicide attempts in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(10):1044-1051. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.127

Chang Z, D’Onofrio BM, Quinn PD, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H.Medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and risk for depression: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.Biological Psychiatry. 2016;80(12):916-922. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.02.018

Nazarova VA, Sokolov AV, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Schiöth HB.Treatment of ADHD: Drugs, psychological therapies, devices, complementary and alternative methods as well as the trends in clinical trials.Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1066988. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1066988

Oddo LE, Knouse LE, Surman CBH, Safren SA.Investigating resilience to depression in adults with ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(5):497-505. doi:10.1177/1087054716636937

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