An update on the comorbidity of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its clinical management
An update on the comorbidity of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its clinical management
Introduction: Over recent decades, research has identified both overlapping and distinct characteristics, risk factors, and genetic as well as neurobiological correlates associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This expanding body of evidence is increasingly informing the clinical management of individuals with comorbid ADHD and ASD. Areas covered: Based on a targeted PubMed search conducted up to March 24,2025,24.03.25, prioritizing meta-analyses or umbrella reviews over primary studies (whenever relevant), with terms encompassing autism, assessment, and treatment, this review addresses: 1) Shared and distinct phenotypic characteristics, neuropsychological features, and genetic and neuroimaging correlates of ADHD and ASD; 2) The assessment of individuals presenting with both ASD and ADHD symptoms; 3) Pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for the management for individuals with comorbid ASD and ADHD. Expert opinion: The comorbidity of ADHD and ASD should not be overlooked. Nevertheless, before diagnosing comorbid ASD and ADHD, clinicians should perform a thorough differential diagnosis, ensuring that ADHD symptoms are not better explained by ASD. Regarding treatment, further research is warranted to develop personalized approaches, support long-term management strategies, and evaluate real-world outcomes such as quality of life, which are often underrepresented in clinical trials.
Autism; ASD; ADHD; Comorbidity; Symptom overlap; Differential diagnosis; Clinical management; Digital interventions; Pharmacological treatments; Non-pharmacological intervention, clinical management, ADHD, Autism, differential diagnosis, comorbidity, non-pharmacological intervention, pharmacological treatments, symptom overlap
75-89
Petruzzelli, Maria Giuseppina
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Matera, Emilia
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Margari, Lucia
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Marzulli, Lucia
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Gabellone, Alessandra
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Cotugno, Chiara
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Annecchini, Federica
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Cortese, Samuele
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Petruzzelli, Maria Giuseppina
d96b60fc-f1b9-4bd1-9cd6-9ac133e0b89f
Matera, Emilia
abf9c93d-f5c9-4d9e-80f8-3e255b5b4728
Margari, Lucia
cd19d7f3-f363-433b-a255-f65121b4d543
Marzulli, Lucia
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Gabellone, Alessandra
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Cotugno, Chiara
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Annecchini, Federica
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Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Petruzzelli, Maria Giuseppina, Matera, Emilia, Margari, Lucia, Marzulli, Lucia, Gabellone, Alessandra, Cotugno, Chiara, Annecchini, Federica and Cortese, Samuele
(2025)
An update on the comorbidity of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its clinical management.
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 26 (1), .
(doi:10.1080/14737175.2025.2599856).
Abstract
Introduction: Over recent decades, research has identified both overlapping and distinct characteristics, risk factors, and genetic as well as neurobiological correlates associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This expanding body of evidence is increasingly informing the clinical management of individuals with comorbid ADHD and ASD. Areas covered: Based on a targeted PubMed search conducted up to March 24,2025,24.03.25, prioritizing meta-analyses or umbrella reviews over primary studies (whenever relevant), with terms encompassing autism, assessment, and treatment, this review addresses: 1) Shared and distinct phenotypic characteristics, neuropsychological features, and genetic and neuroimaging correlates of ADHD and ASD; 2) The assessment of individuals presenting with both ASD and ADHD symptoms; 3) Pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for the management for individuals with comorbid ASD and ADHD. Expert opinion: The comorbidity of ADHD and ASD should not be overlooked. Nevertheless, before diagnosing comorbid ASD and ADHD, clinicians should perform a thorough differential diagnosis, ensuring that ADHD symptoms are not better explained by ASD. Regarding treatment, further research is warranted to develop personalized approaches, support long-term management strategies, and evaluate real-world outcomes such as quality of life, which are often underrepresented in clinical trials.
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An update on the comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD and autism spectrum disorder ASD and its clinical management
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Accepted/In Press date: 2 December 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 12 December 2025
Keywords:
Autism; ASD; ADHD; Comorbidity; Symptom overlap; Differential diagnosis; Clinical management; Digital interventions; Pharmacological treatments; Non-pharmacological intervention, clinical management, ADHD, Autism, differential diagnosis, comorbidity, non-pharmacological intervention, pharmacological treatments, symptom overlap
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 508191
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508191
ISSN: 1473-7175
PURE UUID: ce4c8f26-90bc-4896-be0a-8c7c059e9bfa
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Date deposited: 14 Jan 2026 17:41
Last modified: 14 Apr 2026 01:50
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Contributors
Author:
Maria Giuseppina Petruzzelli
Author:
Emilia Matera
Author:
Lucia Margari
Author:
Lucia Marzulli
Author:
Alessandra Gabellone
Author:
Chiara Cotugno
Author:
Federica Annecchini
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