Comorbidity and its Impact in Adult Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Primary Care Perspective
Abstract
The objective of this manuscript was to review the literature relevant to the primary care practitioner concerning comorbidity and its impact on diagnosis and treatment efficacy in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A MEDLINE literature review was performed using the keywords: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; psychiatric comorbidity; bipolar disorder; major depressive disorder; oppositional defiant disorder; conduct disorder; and substance use disorder. The authors assessed and summarized literature identified as relevant to primary care practitioners. Results demonstrated high rates of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with ADHD. These comorbid disorders, coupled with the differing characteristics of ADHD symptoms in adults versus children, may complicate accurate diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Controlled clinical trials indicate that the presence of comorbidity does not substantially alter the safety and efficacy of ADHD pharmacotherapy and that treatment of ADHD can sometimes improve symptoms of the comorbid disorder. Although rates of psychiatric comorbidity are high in adults with ADHD, available data suggest that the benefits of pharmacotherapy for ADHD are not compromised by the presence of psychiatric comorbidity.
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The WMH finding of high comorbidity in ADHD is consistent with much previous research.
“Our finding of high comorbidity in ADHD is consistent with much previous research”
From The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the world health organization world mental health surveys (2017) · cites this paper as Babcock and Ornstein 2009
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- Authors
- Babcock, T., & Ornstein, C. S.
- Affiliations
- Takeda (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Babcock, Thomas
- Venue
- Postgraduate Medicine
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-05
- Volume
- 121
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 73-82
- ISSN
- 0032-5481 (ISSN-L)
- 1941-9260
- OpenAlex
- W2148883596
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Postgraduate Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Keywords
- adult ADHD, psychiatric comorbidity, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorders, ADHD medication, treatment efficacy, ADHD diagnosis, primary care
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Primary Health Care, Psychotic Disorders, Global Health, Comorbidity, Conduct Disorder, Substance-Related Disorders
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