OCD and ADHD: Comorbid Symptoms and Treatments
It’s interesting to note how widely accepted it is for medical conditions to coexist. No one would bat an eye if they encountered someone who, for example, had both high blood pressure and arthritis. You might even expect someone with diabetes to also struggle with obesity. Even though it’s less commonly discussed, comorbid diagnoses are just as common with mental health disorders. Case in point: About one-quarter of people diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also have a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
With this in mind, let’s explore the overlap of symptoms and the importance of an accurate diagnosis when it comes to folks with OCD and ADHD.
OCD and ADHD: Similarities and Overlap
Despite being very different disorders, both OCD and ADHD impact the same area of the brain, the frontostriatal. Therefore, for starters, people with either or both diagnoses will almost always present with challenges and symptoms that relate to planning, memory, and decision-making. Related and in addition, other possible crossovers can be identified in these ways:
ADHD and OCD, being developmental conditions, are often linked with childhood trauma.
Obviously, “attention deficit” can be a huge part of ADHD, but it also plays a major role in OCD. The obsessions and compulsions that make OCD what it is can dominate anyone’s attention to the point of being exclusive.
Both disorders are known to cause issues at work or school in areas like focus, time management, and executive functioning.
OCD and ADHD are relentless stressors, thus increasing the risk of anxiety and/or depression.
Either disorder can directly result in sleep-related problems.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common comorbidity with OCD and ADHD.
A list like this makes clear why it can be tricky to make an accurate diagnosis. If both disorders are present, the obstacles multiply.
OCD and ADHD: Diagnosis and Treatment
To increase the odds of getting the diagnosis correct, clinicians must be diligent to avoid common confusion, like:
Mistaking OCD compulsions for the rituals people with ADHD use to handle daily functionality.
OCD is not always about cleanliness, and quite often, this sign is more strongly related to ADHD.
It’s automatically assumed that ADHD is the culprit when it comes to leaving tasks unfinished. Meanwhile, OCD compulsions can make it very difficult to complete any other task but the compulsion itself.
Hyper-focus is equally as prevalent in either disorder and, of course, even more obvious in instances when they are comorbid.
Hence, before we can even think about treatment, a mental health professional needs to take a slow, patient approach to parsing out the intersections and crossovers. In the meantime, the client is strongly encouraged to introduce a daily self-care regimen from the time examinations commence until the potential comorbidity is confirmed.
Self-Care for OCD and ADHD
Regardless of which disorder you have — or both — if you’re displaying symptoms of ADHD or OCD, you can help your overall well-being by choosing steps like:
Mindfulness
Creating a trusted, in-person (when possible) support system
Building structure in your daily life
Moving with patience and self-compassion
Taking diligent care of your sleeping, eating, and exercise rhythms
Stress management techniques
Treatment for OCD and ADHD
To treat co-occurring OCD and ADHD, your therapist will cultivate a multi-pronged approach. ADHD counseling, of course, is a major component, as will medication and self-care (see above). Beyond such general statements, it’s difficult to assume more. Every person and every case can be very different. Thus, your medical team will craft a very personal yet flexible approach to help you navigate the daily challenges while still living a full, rich life. To learn more, I invite you to reach out and talk soon.