Good News: Some Adults with ADHD Are Actually More Resilient to Depression

Published April 11, 2016

ADHD has long been associated with a higher risk of depression and other mood disorders, but not every adult with ADHD suffers from depression, In fact, some are highly resilient to the condition. A team from the University of Richmond is working to figure out why this is. They conducted a study to try to identify any factors that contribute to depression — or its lack thereof — in ADHD adults.

The study, published April 7 in the Journal of Attention Disorders, looked at 77 adults with ADHD, all of whom completed diagnostic interviews, clinical assessments, and self-reporting questionnaires on the levels of stress in their life, their history of ADHD treatment, and what techniques they used to treat symptoms of depression or ADHD.

The results showed that the earlier someone started receiving treatment for their ADHD, the less likely they were to suffer from depression. Similarly, those who used cognitive-behavioral techniques to confront negative thought patterns were also more resilient. Contrary to what the researchers hypothesized, the severity of ADHD symptoms did not appear to have an effect on the patient’s risk for depression.

The study was small, but the results emphasize the importance of starting ADHD treatment early on after an ADHD diagnosis. The study supported other research that demonstrates that cognitive behavioral therapy may be a useful tool in managing ADHD, depression, and other comorbid conditions.

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