Module 4: ADHD & Comorbidities – Interaction & Prioritization of Treatment (1.75 hours)

1. Differentiate ADHD from other comorbid conditions

2. Initate treatment for ADHD with comorbidities

3. Prioritize treatment for ADHD with comorbidities.

1. Bond, David J., et al. “The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) task force recommendations for the management of patients with mood disorders and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.” Ann Clin Psychiatry 24.1 (2012): 23-37.
2. CADDRA – Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance: Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines, 4.1 Edition, Toronto ON; CADDRA, 2020.
3. Culpepper, Larry, and Gregory Mattingly. “A practical guide to recognition and diagnosis of ADHD in adults in the primary care setting.” Postgraduate medicine 120.3 (2008): 16-26.
4. Cumyn, Lucy, Lisa French, and Lily Hechtman. “Comorbidity in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.” The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 54.10 (2009): 673-683.
5. De Alwis, Duneesha, et al. “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subtypes and substance use and use disorders in NESARC.” Addictive behaviors 39.8 (2014): 1278-1285.
6. Jensen, Christina Mohr, and Hans-Christoph Steinhausen. “Comorbid mental disorders in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a large nationwide study.” ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders 7.1 (2015): 27-38.
7. Kessler, Ronald C., et al. “The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.” American Journal of psychiatry 163.4 (2006): 716-723.American Psychiatric Association.
8. Klassen, Larry J., Martin A. Katzman, and Pratap Chokka. “Adult ADHD and its comorbidities, with a focus on bipolar disorder.” Journal of affective disorders 124.1-2 (2010): 1-8.
9. Mancini, C., et al. “Childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults with anxiety disorders.” Psychological Medicine 29.3 (1999): 515-525.
10. Mao, Alice R., and Robert L. Findling. “Comorbidities in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a practical guide to diagnosis in primary care.” Postgraduate medicine 126.5 (2014): 42-51.
11. Mayes, Susan Dickerson, et al. “Sleep problems in children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, acquired brain injury, and typical development.” Sleep Medicine Clinics 4.1 (2009): 19-25.
12. Searight, H. Russell, John M. Burke, and F. R. E. D. Rottnek. “Adult ADHD: evaluation and treatment in family medicine.” American family physician 62.9 (2000): 2077-2086.
13. Sonuga‐Barke, Edmund JS, et al. “Annual Research Review: Transdiagnostic neuroscience of child and adolescent mental disorders–differentiating decision making in attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and anxiety.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 57.3 (2016): 321-349.
14. Van Der Meer, Jolanda MJ, et al. “Are autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder different manifestations of one overarching disorder? Cognitive and symptom evidence from a clinical and population-based sample.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 51.11 (2012): 1160-1172.

Feel free to post in the ‘Ask an Expert’ forum (look in the left-hand menu) with any questions regarding applying the content of this module to your own practice. You will receive a response from one of our Experts.

This program is fully funded by CADDRA – Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, and has not received any external financial or in-kind support.

The development and planning of this learning activity was completed by an independent scientific planning committee. Content of this learning program is based on quality scientific evidence.

Dr. Doron Almogor
Director, The Possibilities Clinic, Toronto, Ontario
Advisory Council member, CADDRA – Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance
​Contributor and editor (4th and 4.1 edition), Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines
Relationships with financial sponsors
Click here for Conflict of Interest Declaration
Advisory Board: Janssen Inc., Purdue Pharma, Shire
Speakers Bureau: Janssen Inc., Purdue, Shire
CADDRA Board Member (travel costs)

Dr. Sara Binder
Consulting psychiatrist Psychiatric Adult Service (PAS), Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta
​CADDRA Board member since 2016
Relationships with financial sponsors
Click here for Conflict of Interest Declaration
Speaking Honorarium: Shire, Janssen, Purdue, Lundbeck, Pfizer
Advisory Board: Shire, Janssen, Purdue, Lundbeck
​International Sponsorship: Purdue, Shire

Any questions about navigating your course can be emailed to stacey.espinet@caddra.ca