Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a disorder that begins in childhood but can remain well into adulthood. A comorbid disorder means that along with the diagnosis of ADHD, you have another mental health disorder. Having a comorbid disorder with an ADHD diagnosis is fairly common. A number of different disorders can manifest with ADHD.
Basics
If you get a diagnosis of ADHD, you're also classified by the type of ADHD you have. The three types of ADHD are inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined. Generally, adults with ADHD display symptoms primarily of the inattentive type, but they can have display symptoms of all the types.
Considerations
Making a diagnosis of ADHD takes the skills and knowledge of a trained mental health professional. Therefore, diagnosing a person with two or three different mental health disorders can be even harder. The problem comes from the fact that many mental health disorders display a number of similar symptoms, so in order to provide a correct diagnosis, a mental health professional has to determine which symptoms fit with each particular disorder. Generally, this is accomplished by first ruling out the disorders you don't have.
Types
A number of different mental health disorders can occur in people with ADHD. According to the MayoClinic.com, some of these comorbid disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. The person with ADHD may also have problems with substance abuse or addiction and/or eating disorders.
Treatment
Treatment for adult ADHD generally occurs with the combined use of medication, psychotherapy and skills training. Adult treatments depend on the comorbid disorder and whether treatment has persisted since childhood. Physicians who use medication as part of the treatment for ADHD take into consideration the presence of the comorbid disorder and how ADHD medications will interact with the medications used to treat the other disorder. Also, any substance abuse or addiction problems are taken into consideration, and no medications with addictive qualities are prescribed. The mental health professional who treats a person with ADHD and a comorbid disorder should have successful experience in treating both ADHD and the other disorder present. Psychotherapy focuses on behavior management, skill building, communication techniques and combating negative thought processes. Life coaches and professional organizers might be used to help you discover practical interventions for your life, suggest HelpGuide.org.
Warning
Dealing with ADHD and a persistent comorbid disorder can be hard. Depending on the comorbid disorder, the treatment for ADHD may have to wait. If you have a persistent addiction problem or eating disorder that may threaten your overall health, the mental health professional might focus the treatment on reducing the severity of these disorders before treating the ADHD.
Also, the presence of depression and bipolar disorder along with ADHD might increase the risk of suicide. In this case, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
