ADHD and Depression

Plain-language summary

Research suggests a complex relationship between ADHD and depression, with studies exploring shared genetic factors and the co-occurrence of these conditions. It appears that people with ADHD may have a higher likelihood of also experiencing depression, although the exact mechanisms are still being investigated.

Key findings

• There may be shared genetic influences contributing to both ADHD and depression, meaning some genetic factors could increase the risk for both conditions.
• Adults with ADHD, both men and women, appear to have a higher prevalence of mood disorders, including depression, compared to those without ADHD.
• The presence of ADHD can impact the assessment and understanding of co-occurring conditions like depression.

Studies cited (8)

1. Benefits and harms of ADHD interventions: umbrella review and platform for shared decision making — Gosling CJ, Garcia-Argibay M, De Prisco M (2025, BMJ (Clinical research ed.), review)

   DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2025-085875 PMCID: PMC12651917

2. Psychiatric Comorbidity in Children and Adults with Gluten-Related Disorders: A Narrative Review — Slim M, Rico-Villademoros F, Calandre EP (2018, Nutrients, review)

   DOI: 10.3390/nu10070875 PMCID: PMC6073457

3. Mapping the genetic landscape across 14 psychiatric disorders — Grotzinger AD, Werme J, Peyrot WJ (2026, Nature, other)

   DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09820-3 PMCID: PMC12779569

4. Prevalence of Enuresis in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — Aljabri B, AlSolami J, Alnakhli A (2024, Cureus, other)

   DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55073 PMCID: PMC10977936

5. Anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders in adult men and women with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A substantive and methodological overview — Hartman CA, Larsson H, Vos M (2023, Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105209

6. Comorbidities in Youth with Bipolar Disorder: Clinical Features and Pharmacological Management — Sesso G, Brancati GE, Masi G (2023, Current neuropharmacology, other)

   DOI: 10.2174/1570159X20666220706104117 PMCID: PMC10227908

7. Clinical picture and treatment of bipolar affective disorder in children and adolescents — Cichoń L, Janas-Kozik M, Siwiec A (2020, Psychiatria polska, other)

   DOI: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/92740

8. Justice and rejection sensitivity in children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms — Bondü R, Esser G (2015, European child & adolescent psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.1007/s00787-014-0560-9