Fu Xinyu, Wu Weige, Wu Yuru, Liu Xiaofu, Liang Wanting, Wu Rongchuan, Li Yun
The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Xiamen Xianyue Hospital, Xianyue Hospital Affiliated with Xiamen Medical College, Fujian Psychiatric Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 Jun 6;16:1597559. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1597559. eCollection 2025.
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is known for its high degree of heterogeneity. It often coexists with other psychiatric diseases, especially anxiety and depression. This article reviews recent studies to explore the etiology of comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in adults with ADHD, analyzing the factors contributing to this elevated comorbidity rate from several perspectives. Additionally, we explore potential directions for future research in this field.
ADHD exhibits a high comorbidity rate with anxiety and depressive disorders, due to overlapping and interacting symptoms. Individuals with two or more comorbid conditions often experience increased disease burden, prolonged illness duration, and diminished treatment efficacy. The underlying causes of comorbid anxiety and depression in ADHD patients are highly complex and can be understood from multiple dimensions, including genetics, neurobiology, neurocognition, and neuroimaging. This complexity poses significant challenges for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Currently, the management of ADHD patients with concurrent depression or anxiety may involve pharmaceutical interventions combined with non-pharmacological strategies, including psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT) and digital therapeutics. For patients with comorbid illnesses, these intergrated approaches have demonstrated significant improvements in symptom relief and quality of life enhancement.
ADHD is a highly heterogeneous disorder with a significant comorbidity rate. Recent research has elucidated the pathogenetic mechanisms of ADHD comorbid with depression and anxiety disorders from multiple perspectives. To improve patient functioning, enhance their quality of life, and guide more effective treatments, Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying causes of these comorbid conditions.
注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）是一种神经发育障碍，以高度异质性著称。它常与其他精神疾病共存，尤其是焦虑症和抑郁症。本文回顾近期研究，以探讨成人ADHD患者合并焦虑和抑郁障碍的病因，从多个角度分析导致这种高共病率的因素。此外，我们还探索该领域未来研究的潜在方向。
由于症状重叠和相互作用，ADHD与焦虑和抑郁障碍的共病率很高。患有两种或更多共病的个体往往疾病负担增加、病程延长且治疗效果降低。ADHD患者合并焦虑和抑郁的潜在原因高度复杂，可从多个维度理解，包括遗传学、神经生物学、神经认知和神经影像学。这种复杂性给临床诊断和治疗带来了重大挑战。目前，对同时患有抑郁症或焦虑症的ADHD患者的管理可能涉及药物干预与非药物策略相结合，包括心理治疗（如认知行为疗法，CBT）和数字疗法。对于合并疾病的患者，这些综合方法已证明在缓解症状和提高生活质量方面有显著改善。
ADHD是一种高度异质性疾病，共病率很高。近期研究从多个角度阐明了ADHD合并抑郁和焦虑障碍的发病机制。为改善患者功能、提高生活质量并指导更有效的治疗，需要进一步研究这些共病情况的潜在原因。
