OCD and ADHD Overlap

Recent research has shown that OCD and AD/HD overlap with some frequency. This might seem surprising since AD/HD causes a lack of focus while OCD creates fixation. How is it that these two very different mental health conditions can co-exist?

The answer lies in brain biology. AD/HD is often referred to a “sleepy brain” syndrome in that slow, sleepy brainwaves dominate two parts of the brain that are needed to feel alert and “on it.” OCD, on the other hand, correlates with very fast brainwave patterns in a variety of other parts of the brain. So, just as you can have depression and AD/HD at the same time, you can have from OCD and AD/HD at the same time.

But while it is good to understand something about the biology behind AD/HD and OCD, the question is: how does it impact people? In my practice, I have noticed that most people with difficulty concentrating attribute the problem to AD/HD. While AD/HD might well be part of the problem, I have found that in about 30% of my clients, ADHD is complicated by OCD. Just think about it: people with ADHD often describe themselves as having several “windows” open at the time. If one of those “windows” is obsessing about germs on the counter they touched, or maybe whether they read a paragraph exactly correctly, how could they focus? It would add to lack of focus and concentration, making that person feel like they are all over the place and cannot move forward. For this reason, it is important to carefully evaluate symptoms like “lack of concentration” to get to the true source of the problem and address it correctly. Of course, working with a professional can help.