Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia are common mental health conditions that disrupt mental stability and interfere with normal life functioning. Both ADHD and schizophrenia have some major similarities and differences regarding the symptoms, causes, and treatment options. In most cases, both conditions co-occur. But one mental illness doesn’t need to cause the development of another.
If you want to know in detail what the main link between ADHD and Schizophrenia is, then this article is best for you.
ADHD and Schizophrenia: What’s the connection between them?
ADHD and schizophrenia are distinct mental health issues that can exert a negative influence on the life phases of individuals. Both mental health disorders exhibit some resemblances and major differences, which also help the professionals to make an accurate diagnosis of both mental conditions.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that comprises the symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior, disorganized thoughts, etc. ADHD is usually diagnosed in individuals in the early stages of childhood, before the age of 12. However, in some children, ADHD symptoms exhibit major improvements, while in some, the severity of symptoms increases with time and persists to adulthood if left untreated.
According to recent studies, it is estimated that approximately 11.4% of US individuals are suffering from ADHD. Moreover, ADHD occurs in both men and women, but males, especially boys, are more diagnosed with ADHD. On the other hand, females with ADHD remain undiagnosed or underdiagnosed.
Schizophrenia is a severe and long-term mental health disorder in which individuals are unable to think properly, process their emotions and thoughts, and manage their behavior. Moreover, this mental illness involves the major psychotic symptoms, which include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, difficulty in speech, and reduced sense of motivation etc. Approximately 3.7 million US adults have suffered from schizophrenia at some stage of their lives.
Link between ADHD and Schizophrenia
There is a strong connecting link between ADHD and schizophrenia, which is clearly explained by the following factors:
1. Increased risk of developing Schizophrenia
Multiple studies have reported that children and adolescents suffering from ADHD are more likely to experience psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia in adulthood. Moreover, it is estimated that the prevalence of schizophrenia in ADHD individuals is 4.3 times higher as compared to those who are unaffected by ADHD.
2. Shared genetic factors
There is also a genetic association and overlap between ADHD and schizophrenia. Certain genes elevate the risk of one disorder and can also increase the risk of other mental illnesses. Close relatives of ADHD individuals are more prone to suffer from schizophrenia due to the presence of overlapping genetic components.
3. Causes of ADHD and Schizophrenia
Just like other major mental illnesses, the exact cause of ADHD and schizophrenia is not evident to the experts, but it is believed that there is a combination of certain genetic as well as environmental factors that can contribute to and increase the risk of the development of both mental health conditions. There are multiple trigger factors of ADHD and Schizophrenia in individuals.
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| Genetic predisposition: ADHD is genetic and tends to run in families. Genes are transferred from parents to offspring, which in turn results in the onset of ADHD. | Genetic factors: Schizophrenia also has a strong genetic component, like ADHD, and the presence of genes can also trigger the development of schizophrenia. |
| Brain developmental issues: Any impairment in the central nervous system can also trigger ADHD in individuals. | Brain developmental issues: Major brain developmental issues in schizophrenic individuals include reduced white and grey matter and certain changes in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain. |
| Environmental factors: Major environmental stress factors that act as a trigger factor of ADHD include:
• Environmental toxins |
Neurotransmitter imbalance: There is an uncontrolled level of serotonin and dopamine in schizophrenic individuals.
Environmental triggers: Major external or environmental stress factors that can induce schizophrenia include: • Stress |
| Pregnancy issues: Certain complications in pregnancy can also contribute to the development of schizophrenia in newborns, such as:• Premature birth • Hypoxia at the time of birth • Low birth weight |
Symptoms of ADHD and Schizophrenia
Just like other factors, symptoms of both ADHD and schizophrenia also exhibit differences, but the overlap occurs in the field of inattention.
Most common symptoms of ADHD include lack of focus or attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Attention issues are common in both ADHD and schizophrenia. Likewise, psychotic symptoms and difficulty in thought organization also overlap in both ADHD and schizophrenia.
The following are the three major types of ADHD:
- Inattentive ADHD
- Hyperactive and impulsive ADHD
- Combined type ADHD
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| Reduced attention span | Hallucinations |
| Easier distractions | Delusions |
| Unable to follow the instructions | Excessive body movements |
| Difficulty in organization | Confusion in thoughts |
| Sense of forgetfulness | Difficulty in sleep wake cycle |
| Hyperactive behavior | Emotional instability |
| Excessive talking | Difficulty in learning |
| Fidgeting behavior | Lack of understanding |
| Interruption in conversations | Decreased motivation |
| Lack of interest in enjoyable activities | Reduced concern with personal hygiene |
Risk Factors of ADHD and Schizophrenia
There is also an overlap between the risk factors of ADHD and Schizophrenia. However, the effect of risk factors is varied, as in some cases, risk factors are more evident during pregnancy, while in some cases, they affect individuals during childhood and adolescent stages. Some major risk factors of ADHD and schizophrenia are as follows:
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| Continuous stress from parents | Lack of sufficient nutrition during pregnancy |
| Alcohol, tobacco, or any substance use during pregnancy | Maternal infections at the time of conception, pregnancy period, and at delivery |
| Fetal exposure to certain environmental toxins | Advanced parental age |
| Family history of ADHD or any other mental illness | Low birth weight |
| Malnutrition | Birth at the time of late winter or spring |
| Low birth weight | Fetal exposure to contaminants such as cannabis |
Major Similarities between ADHD & Schizophrenia
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| ADHD affects the ability to focus or pay attention | Schizophrenia also affects attention |
| ADHD can affect the memory | It also affects the memory |
| ADHD can also occur together with psychosis | Schizophrenia can also pair up with psychosis |
| This mental illness negatively affects the thought patterns | Individuals with schizophrenia also face difficulty in reframing their thought patterns |
Major Differences between ADHD and Schizophrenia
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| This mental illness majorly affects the ability to focus or pay attention | Schizophrenia involves altered thought patterns |
| The onset of ADHD occurs before the age of 12 | The typical onset of schizophrenia occurs at late adolescence and early adulthood. |
| ADHD individuals face difficulty paying attention and reduced impulse control | In schizophrenia, individuals find it hard to have control over their minds and think clearly and logically, and show positive behavior. |
| ADHD can result in the onset of Psychotic symptoms | Psychosis is a major feature of Schizophrenia |
| ADHD can be treated with stimulants. The main therapy that helps in treating ADHD is cognitive behavioral therapy, and behavioral therapies | The most common treatment options for schizophrenia include antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy |
Diagnosis of ADHD and Schizophrenia
There are varied diagnostic criteria for both ADHD and schizophrenia.
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| The diagnosis of ADHD usually occurs before the age of 12 if the symptoms are present for six months and affect the academic performance, social as well and personal life. There is no specific test that is used to diagnose individuals with ADHD. Experts perform a complete psychological evaluation to determine the previous medical history, family history, and other related factors. Likewise, they also perform some medical examination tests to identify the presence of any other mental illness that is present. Experts also utilize different rating scales to make a better diagnosis. |
Schizophrenia is also diagnosed by the experts if any of the two major symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, are present for a longer period and exert a negative impact on the lives of individuals. Major diagnostic tests of schizophrenia include: – Magnetic radiation imaging – CT Scan – Alcohol or Drug screening |
Treatment of ADHD and Schizophrenia
There is no complete or permanent cure for both ADHD and schizophrenia, but some significant treatment options can provide relief.
| ADHD | Schizophrenia |
|---|---|
| Medications that help in managing ADHD symptoms include stimulants and non-stimulants. | Major medications that are used to treat schizophrenia include antipsychotic drugs and mood stabilizers. |
| Stimulant drugs specifically function by increasing the level of dopamine and norepinephrine to improve the ability to focus or pay attention. | Antipsychotic drugs play a major role in managing the psychotic symptoms by regulating the dopamine levels. |
| ADHD Non-stimulants work as an alternative to the stimulants. They take more time in showing their effectiveness as compared to stimulants, but can improve the major ADHD symptoms, including hyperactivity, attention, and increased impulsivity. | Mood stabilizers are also used along with antipsychotics to prevent anxiousness and mood alterations. |
| Cognitive behavioral therapy helps in altering the negative thought patterns of ADHD individuals. | Cognitive behavioral therapy is also used by experts for identifying and then challenging the psychotic symptoms. |
| Behavioral therapy is effective for managing or changing impulsive or hyperactive behavior, especially in children and adolescents. | Psychosocial therapy combines the elements of psychotherapy and social training. This is done to provide the necessary mental support and guidance to the individuals suffering from schizophrenia. |
| Another major therapy that can efficiently work for schizophrenia is Electroconvulsive therapy. If the medication does not provide the desired results, then ECT works. |
Some researchers believe that ADHD and Schizophrenia overlap to a major extent, while some report major differences between the conditions.
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