Differential Diagnosis and Comorbid ADHD in Childhood

Abstract

Anxiety disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both common conditions in children and adolescents. Further, there is a known significant association between them, evident in epidemiological and clinical studies (Anderson, Williams, McGee, & Silva, 1987; Biederman, Newcorn, & Sprich, 1991; Jensen et al., 2001). This chapter explores how ADHD affects the diagnosis, clinical presentation, assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders. There is a particular emphasis on key differential diagnoses to consider in a comprehensive approach to assessment and composing more specific and targeted treatment plans for young people with anxiety disorders and comorbid ADHD.