Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a behavioral mental health disorder that begins presenting itself prior to a child's seventh birthday, but in some people may not be identified until they reach adulthood. Anxiety disorders, on the other hand, can present at any time in the life of a person and may be triggered by stressful life events or even the frustrations and setbacks known to occur with ADHD. Treating these disorders will help a person experience more academic, career and social success.
Basics
According to research reported on About Our Kids website, 25 percent of children with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder and vice versa. In treating these co-existing disorders it is important to take into consideration how the symptoms present themselves and whether they are highly connected to one another or are more directly linked to separate issues.
Considerations
About Our Kids reports that when children have the co-existing ADHD and an anxiety disorder treatment often times begins later on in the child's life; this may be because the anxiety symptoms keep the hyperactive-impulsive behaviors, which are the symptoms that generally trigger early referrals into treatment, hidden from those involved in the child's life.
Types
Effective treatments for both ADHD and anxiety disorders generally incorporate the combined use of psychotherapy and medication.
Behavioral forms of psychotherapy are commonly used in the treatment of ADHD and anxiety disorders. NIMH reports that with ADHD behavioral therapies help a person develop and implement practical solutions to help manage her symptoms and reduce the negative effects; they also help change negative behaviors and teach the person to control unwanted behaviors, while self rewarding desirable behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on reducing a person's negative and unrealistic thought patterns, which perpetuate the anxiety, and replace them with a positive and realistic though processes, notes the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
Although stimulant medications are generally the first line of treatment with ADHD, antidepressants, such as bupropion or venlafaxine, are more commonly used to treat people who have ADHD and a co-existing mood disorder, such as anxiety, notes the MayoClinic.com.
Effectiveness
Commonly prescribed stimulant medications might not be as effective in treating people with ADHD and anxiety disorders, because in some people the stimulant medications may worsen the anxiety, notes About Our Kids.
According to NIMH, when it is determined that a person has an anxiety disorder along with her ADHD focusing the treatment on ADHD can help to reduce the symptoms of the anxiety disorder.
Warning
When treating ADHD and anxiety it is important to keep in mind the complications that can result from either of these two disorders when they manifest alone or together.
The risks of substance abuse problems are heighten and need to be ruled out when treating these disorders. If substance abuse is determined to be present treatments plans will have to be adapted to stop the persons use because drug and/or alcohol use can increase the severity of anxiety and ADHD symptoms.
Also, treating mental health professionals will need to determine the risk of suicidal behaviors and adapt the treatment to reduce the risk.
