A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found that Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be a stronger predictor of depression and anxiety in adulthood than autism. The study surveyed 504 British adults and found that the more severe the ADHD traits, the more severe the mental health symptoms. The correlation between autism traits and mental health symptoms was weaker than that between ADHD and mental health.
The findings suggest that ADHD may be a stronger predictor of depression and anxiety in adulthood than autism and should be taken into consideration when assessing mental health. Richard Gallagher, an associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Health in New York City, said the findings highlight the mental health component of ADHD and that it is important to evaluate the emotional well-being of individuals with ADHD and if depression or anxiety are present, the standard psychological therapies should be employed.
Punit Shah, the senior researcher on the study, said his team is running a range of studies on ADHD, autism, and mental health. The research team's findings suggest that ADHD may be a stronger predictor of depression and anxiety in adulthood than autism. This could mean that individuals with ADHD should be assessed for mental health issues and, if present, the standard psychological therapies should be employed. The research team are also running a range of studies on ADHD, autism, and mental health to further explore these findings.