One in 4 adults ages 20 to 39 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a nationally representative survey also had generalized anxiety disorder, according to findings published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

“These findings underline how vulnerable adults with ADHD are to generalized anxiety disorders,” said study lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD, a professor at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “There are many studies linking adult ADHD to depression and suicidality, but less attention has been paid to generalized activity disorders and other adverse outcomes across the life course.”

Researchers analyzed a sample of 6989 respondents aged 20 to 39 from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health. Among them, 272 had ADHD, and 682 had generalized anxiety disorder.

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According to findings, people with ADHD had 4-fold odds of generalized anxiety disorder compared with people without ADHD after adjusting for age, sex, and race. After adjusting for additional confounders, such as adverse childhood experiences, a history of substance use disorders, and a history of major depressive disorders, the odds of generalized anxiety disorder were still more than double for people with ADHD, researchers reported.

Among people with ADHD, factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder included being female, having an income below $40,000, having fewer close relationships, and having a lifetime history of depression. Female respondents with ADHD, the study showed, had nearly 5 times higher odds of generalized anxiety disorder after controlling for other factors. Meanwhile, male and female respondents with ADHD with a lifetime history of major depressive disorder had 6-fold higher odds of generalized anxiety disorder.

“These results highlight the importance of screening for mental illness and addressing depressive symptoms when providing support to those with ADHD,” said study coauthor Lauren Carrique, MSW, a social worker at Toronto General Hospital. “Individuals experiencing ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression are a particularly vulnerable subgroup that may need targeted outreach by health professionals.”

References

Fuller-Thomson E, Carrique L, MacNeil A. Generalized anxiety disorder among adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Affect Disord. Published online November 16, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.020

Adults with ADHD four times more likely to have generalized anxiety disorder. News release. University of Toronto. November 18, 2021. Accessed November 22, 2021.