- MDD and ADHD are often seen clinically as comorbid disorders, with prevalence rates as high as 55%;1-4 One meta-analysis including 19 studies found a prevalence of depressive disorders in people with ADHD ranging from 8.6–55%, compared with a prevalence of 1.2–12.5% in the general population4
- Current MDD increases the risk of probable ADHD by 4.5 times5
- Inattention in MDD is distinct from ADHD, as in depression concentration difficulties are more prominent during a depressive episode6
- Interestingly, the prevalence of ADHD symptoms appears to be linked to the clinical stage of MDD, with a peak of prevalence during Stage 4 (chronic depressive disorder, characterised by severe, persistent, or unremitting illness)5
ADHD=attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; MDD=major depressive disorder
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