Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40547117›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in psychiatry2025

Adult ADHD and comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders: a review of etiology and treatment.

Xinyu Fu, Weige Wu, Yuru Wu, Xiaofu Liu, Wanting Liang, Rongchuan Wu, Yun Li

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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  4. Article
  5. Patterns of Lateral Frontal Delta Asymmetry in Adult Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder with Comorbid Depression: A Quantitative Electroencephalography Study.Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026
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  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
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  11. Review
  12. Article
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  16. Review
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  19. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xinyu FuThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Weige WuThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Yuru WuThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Xiaofu LiuThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Wanting LiangThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Rongchuan WuThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Yun LiThe School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is known for its high degree of heterogeneity. It often coexists with other psychiatric diseases, especially anxiety and depression. This article reviews recent studies to explore the etiology of comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in adults with ADHD, analyzing the factors contributing to this elevated comorbidity rate from several perspectives. Additionally, we explore potential directions for future research in this field. Recent findings: ADHD exhibits a high comorbidity rate with anxiety and depressive disorders, due to overlapping and interacting symptoms. Individuals with two or more comorbid conditions often experience increased disease burden, prolonged illness duration, and diminished treatment efficacy. The underlying causes of comorbid anxiety and depression in ADHD patients are highly complex and can be understood from multiple dimensions, including genetics, neurobiology, neurocognition, and neuroimaging. This complexity poses significant challenges for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Currently, the management of ADHD patients with concurrent depression or anxiety may involve pharmaceutical interventions combined with non-pharmacological strategies, including psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT) and digital therapeutics. For patients with comorbid illnesses, these intergrated approaches have demonstrated significant improvements in symptom relief and quality of life enhancement. Summary: ADHD is a highly heterogeneous disorder with a significant comorbidity rate. Recent research has elucidated the pathogenetic mechanisms of ADHD comorbid with depression and anxiety disorders from multiple perspectives. To improve patient functioning, enhance their quality of life, and guide more effective treatments, Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying causes of these comorbid conditions.

Indexed as

adult ADHDanxiety and depressive disorderscomorbidityetiologytreatment

Identifiers

PMID40547117
PMCPMC12179154

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.