OCD and ADHD are Potentially Related?
Written by Natalie Hopkins
Edited by Aaron Wright
March 21, 2022
Edited by Aaron Wright
March 21, 2022
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common mental diseases in youth. While both have their individual set of behaviors, they share a genetic link. OCD is described as intrusive thoughts, often disturbing, and leading to repetitive, compulsory behaviors. In adults, it is key that they understand these compulsions are senseless whereas children cannot. ADHD is described as presenting inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity and/or impulsivity for spurts of time, which can lead to social development issues for the child [1].
While it is known that OCD and ADHD are commonly seen together in children, the two disorders haven’t been studied together until now to offer an insightful, compare-and-contrast style analysis. This particular study, an EU funded neurofeedback trial, focuses on the similarities in effects of brain structure, altered decision making, and treatment. Research has shown with side-by-side brain scans that the basal ganglia, a motor control portion of the brain, is similarly affected by both OCD and ADHD in its decrease in size. The anterior cingulate cortex (AAC) is also similarly affected in both as the AAC controls attentional and emotional processes, which is a category of symptoms in both OCD and ADHD [1]. Each disorder individually has its own effects on the brain, but this link leads to further exploration of relation. OCD research of symptoms has faced a divide on whether decision making and reward-based behaviors are impacted, but recent studies by FF da Rocha have indicated that decision making is influenced as ADHD has been known to be. It has been shown that in children, both disorders will cause a child to choose the option with smaller reward but less focus required. In a genetic sense, OCD and ADHD are related by their shared association to dopamine genes on chromosome 5. This indicates that the heritability of these disorders is linked and thus dopaminergic drugs work on both. Dopaminergic drugs are shown to improve compulsive behaviors, OCD symptoms, and assist in a longer attention span, ADHD symptoms [1].
These several forms of evidence shed light on the reasons behind ADHD and OCD’s simultaneous presence in children and provide the documentation for further comparative studies to continue as neurological links are useful for multifaceted treatment.
References
Brem, S., Grünblatt, E., Drechsler, R., Riederer, P., & Walitza, S. The neurobiological link between OCD and ADHD. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. 2014;6(3), 175–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-014-0146.
Image Source: “Boy, with homework” by woodleywonderworks licensed under CC BY 2.0