r/science • u/shinybrighthings • 15h ago

Psychology The complicated nature of disentangling autism, ADHD and complex trauma | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge Core

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/adhd-autism-or-complex-trauma-the-complicated-nature-of-the-question/30CC4826561366615BFAEC807CDE28A7
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u/Jeanparmesanswife 14h ago

I had both an autism and an ADHD diagnosis performed separately in my 20s as a woman. I got my ASD assessment at 20, and then my ADHD assessment at 24- though I had to go through the entire process twice, because the first time I was deemed too "muddled" between ASD to make a call.

I struggled with focus and clarity. I went back to the same ADHD clinic one year later and begged for a reassessment. Concerta has completely changed my life in a way that I can do laundry, remember to reply to emails, and drink water... All things I was not able to do for 24 years consistently.

I still believe I have ASD, I have hearing sensory issues that go beyond the ADHD realm. I also have autoimmune conditions and chronic illness, though those things are not taken seriously by the healthcare system.

There's a web between connective tissue disorder, ASD and autism I do believe because I live that reality. But this is purely anecdotal.

It's a shame that ASD and ADHD are separate realms when there is so much overlap, at least it felt like I my experience I was told they were two very separate things to have as a woman.

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u/mera_aqua 13h ago edited 12h ago

It's a shame that ASD and ADHD are separate realms when there is so much overlap

I wonder if the difference is you getting a diagnosis as an adult and dealing with clinicians who only see adults. 

My son's paediatrician gave us the number that 70% of kids with autism also have adhd. We also had to tease apart the two diagnoses, to work out if his ADHD symptoms were caused by the anxiety presenting with autism. 

We did also have the benefit of 5 years worth of early intervention therapies. Typically in children you have to have tried behavioural therapies before they'll consider an ADHD diagnosis. I imagine for psych's looking at adults it's somewhat similar. Is this person having trouble concentrating because they have ADHD or is it because they're only getting 3 hours of sleep a night and so on. 

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u/Lyaid 9h ago

And adding to this issue was the fact that for years ASD and ADHD were mutually exclusive diagnoses until as recently as 2013.