What is the Connection Between Depression and Attention Deficit Disorder?

An occurrence of depression with attention deficit disorder is very common in individuals whose behaviors and thoughts hinder their abilities in everyday life. The connections between depression and attention deficit disorder are varied based on each patient, but the strongest explanation lies in the fact that both disorders impair actions and behaviors in individuals. Often, a diagnosis of depression will be presented to a patient who may actually be suffering from ADD or ADHD, and a patient with depression might be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder because of the closely related symptoms. Symptoms of both depression and attention deficit disorder include trouble concentrating and extreme restlessness or energy drain, making each disorder difficult to distinguish in people suffering from these symptoms.

Depression is a disorder which promotes lack of interest and reoccurring sadness over a long period. This disorder can range from mild to severe, and can lead to mental impairment at work or at school and sometimes can lead to death through suicide or carelessness. The link forms between depression and attention deficit disorder when one looks at the symptom of mental impairment, which the two disorders share, and how it affects the performance of an individual at work or school. Attention deficit disorder centers around lack of concentration and attention, as does depression, giving those who diagnose the two disorders distress due to the possibility of accidentally providing the wrong diagnosis.

There are some studies which suggest that children who suffer from attention deficit disorder are more likely to suffer from other behavior and mood disorders, like depression, than their normal counterparts. Some scientists believe that depression and attention deficit disorder are connected through their close associations in the brain, fueling the risk for developing either condition later on in life. More studies must be concluded to determine the definite links to help further the treatment of depression and attention deficit disorder conditions. In the meantime, medical and mental therapies are applied to those suffering from both conditions to aid in treatment and perhaps recovery.

Treatment for depression and attention deficit disorders normally involves the use of psychiatric drugs which help elevate the levels of the serotonin hormone in the brain and increase concentration and attentiveness. Long-term studies of combining drugs to treat both conditions have not been evaluated, making it a professional and personal choice made by the doctors, patient and family members involved. Mental therapies such as increasing confidence through good words and rewards are also popular for those seeking to supplement their doctor's advice. Neither condition has a cure, but a combination of available therapies is the best known treatment plan for those suffering from these disorders.