Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD: Overlapping Phenomenology, Diagnostic Issues, and Treatment Considerations
Abstract
Purpose of review Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both increasing in prevalence and commonly co-occur with each other. The goal of this review is to outline what has been published recently on the topics of ASD, ADHD, and the comorbid state (ASD+ADHD) with a particular focus on shared phenomenology, differential diagnosis, and treatment considerations.Recent findings ASD and ADHD have shared genetic heritability and are both associated with shared impairments in social functioning and executive functioning. Quantitative and qualitative differences exist, however, in the phenotypic presentations of the impairments which characterize ASD and ADHD. For ASD interventions to be maximally efficacious, comorbid ADHD needs to be considered (and vice versa). The research on ASD and ADHD suggests some overlap between the two disorders yet enough differences to indicate that these conditions are sufficiently distinct to warrant separate diagnostic categories.
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The results of this meta-analysis of direct comparisons of ASD and ADHD differ from the conclusions reached by previous reviews.
“The results of this meta-analysis of direct comparisons using a meta-analytical approach of ASD and ADHD differ from the conclusions reached by previous reviews (Antshel & Russo, 2019; Banaschewski et al., 2005; Craig et al., 2016).”
From Do ASD and ADHD Have Distinct Executive Function Deficits? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Direct Comparison Studies (2023) · cites this paper as Antshel & Russo, 2019
Due to overlapping features between ASD and ADHD, diagnosing ADHD in patients with ASD can be challenging even for experienced clinicians.
“Due to the overlapping features between ASD and ADHD (e.g., social impairment, executive dysfunction), diagnosing ADHD in patients with ASD can be challenging even for experienced clinicians [75].”
From Pharmacological treatment in autism: a proposal for guidelines on common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
ASD and ADHD frequently co-occur and have overlapping symptomatology.
“As ASD and ADHD frequently co-occur and have overlapping symptomatology (Antshel & Russo, 2019)”
From The experiences of adults with ADHD in interpersonal relationships and online communities: A qualitative study (2023) · cites this paper as Antshel & Russo, 2019
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- Authors
- Antshel, K. M., & Russo, N.
- Affiliations
- Syracuse University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Antshel, Kevin M.
- Venue
- Current Psychiatry Reports
- Published
- 2019-03-22
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 34-34
- ISSN
- 1523-3812 (ISSN-L)
- 1535-1645
- OpenAlex
- W2923605635
- Cited by
- 450
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 74 · 2025: 81 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 6
- FWCI
- 4.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Current Psychiatry Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH101536)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, comorbidities, differential diagnosis, executive function, social functioning, phenomenology, treatment considerations
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Humans, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Executive Function
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