What is the difference between OCD and ADHD? Both are common mental health conditions, and they have some overlapping symptoms. However, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) generally involves responding to anxiety internally, while attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are typically externalized.
Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about ADHD vs OCD, including the key differences, causes, symptoms, and available ADHD and OCD treatments or online therapy options.
The primary difference between OCD vs ADHD is that someone with OCD typically lives with repetitive obsessive thoughts (obsessions) that they try to stop by engaging in ritualistic compulsive behaviors (compulsions). People with ADHD typically experience disruptive behavior such as hyperactivity, disorganization, and an inability to stay on topic or task.
Do I have OCD or ADHD? The core symptoms of OCD and ADHD are marked.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), ADHD is an externalizing condition, meaning it affects how people relate to their environments outwardly. It can present with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and/or inattention. You may experience any of these traits, or a combination of some or all of them.
Some examples of ADHD inattention behaviors include:
- Seeming to not listen when others are speaking
- Being careless and lacking attention to detail
- Poor time management skills
- Inability to complete tasks
- Poor organizational skills
- Frequently losing things
- Losing focus easily
- Being forgetful
People with ADHD may also display impulsivity and hyperactivity symptoms including:
- Having difficulty waiting to speak during conversations
- Making excessive noises
- Lacking patience
- Having a tough time waiting for the proper time to act during group activities
In comparison, OCD is an internalizing condition, which means people who live with it respond to their anxiety by turning inside themselves. OCD symptoms include unwanted repetitive thoughts and corresponding repeated behaviors. The actions are performed in hopes of stopping their unwanted thoughts. However, some people with OCD have only repetitive thoughts (obsessions) or redundant behaviors (compulsion).
Some examples of the obsessive symptoms that are typical with OCD include:
- Fearing causing harm to yourself or others
- Fearing contamination, infection, or disease
- Fearing that you’ll misplace or lose something
- Being excessively concerned about order and exactness
- Having unwanted repetitive thoughts about sex or religion
- Having repetitive thoughts of violence towards oneself or others
Some examples of compulsive behaviors that people with OCD might respond to anxiety with include:
- Repetitively arranging things in a very specific way
- Cleaning your environment or yourself excessively
- Routinely and compulsively counting
- Verbally or mentally repeating numbers or phrases
- Repetitive body scanning
- Repetitively checking that doors are locked, appliances are shut off, alarms are on, etc.
ADHD vs OCD causes might seem similar, but scientists aren’t currently sure of the exact origin of either of these mental health conditions. In both cases, there appears to be some type of genetic predisposition.
Norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are all neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that send and receive information. According to the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), OCD and ADHD are both likely caused by inefficiencies in the frontal lobe of the brain. However, ADHD is believed to be the result of too little norepinephrine and dopamine, while OCD is believed to result from having too much serotonin.
According to the National Health Service (NHS), specific areas of the brain have shown up smaller or larger than normal on brain scans. It’s also been noted that people living with ADHD might have brains with imbalanced levels of neurotransmitters.
ADHD vs OCD treatment typically both involves a combination of prescription medication and psychotherapy (also commonly referred to as talk therapy).
Medication used to treat ADHD:
- Long-acting stimulants (both methylphenidate and amphetamine)
- Short-acting or immediate release stimulants (both methylphenidate and amphetamine)
Common OCD medications:
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Since prescription medications are associated with possible adverse side effects and may have low success rates, sometimes people are reluctant to use them — or to allow their children to take them. Fortunately, routine sessions with a therapist are proven beneficial in helping people with a variety of mental health conditions— including OCD or ADHD — experience decreased symptom frequency and intensity.
Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is another first-line treatment for both OCD and ADHD. This type of psychotherapy teaches you how to stay better connected with your thoughts and feelings. It focuses on learning how to avoid negative behaviors you might have used in the past for coping with many symptoms of your disorder.
Doctors of young children with either (or both) of these mental health conditions might recommend that caregivers undergo behavior management training, which allows them to work with their children’s essential skill sets more effectively.
During school, ADHD or OCD in children require special accommodations, including group interventions that focus on proper interactions with others.
CBT for OCD: CBT can help people with OCD anticipate and recognize developing thoughts so they can intentionally avoid engaging in negative behaviors.
CBT for ADHD: In the same manner, but with a different result, CBT can help people with ADHD learn how to slow down, witness their thoughts, choose their words, exercise patience, be a good listener, and generally fit better into social situations.
Mindfulness-based CBT is particularly useful for people with OCD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and other similar mental health conditions. All these disorders can benefit from closer attention to thoughts and better decisions about behaviors.
Why the Two Are Commonly Misdiagnosed
It can sometimes be challenging to spot the difference between OCD and ADHD. There are similarities and overlaps that must be considered and ruled out to accurately diagnose either condition. Of course, there are some people who have both ADHD and OCD, making the diagnosis more challenging still.
ADHD and OCD can be confused in particular with children who actually have OCD, but present with symptoms of ADHD. For example, OCD can cause an intense need for checking and rechecking, arranging supplies, and ordering things. This behavior might result in them appearing to be distracted, unable to focus, and perhaps even hyper. The reality, though, is they might just be acting on their urge to place things in order.
Alternatively, someone with ADHD might develop coping skills that are remarkably OCD-like. ADHD can cause executive functioning problems with planning, organizing, prioritizing, reasoning, and following through on tasks to completion. This can cause extreme anxiety, which can even become debilitating for some people. Learning to use organization as a coping tool might look like OCD behavior.
“Obsessive compulsive disorder may be characterized as focused attention on your actions as it relates to safety. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may lack focus and appear to be impulsive.”Talkspace therapist Karmen Smith, LCSW, DD
How to Tell if You Have ADHD or OCD
Do I have OCD or ADHD? Determining the answer to this question requires a professional diagnosis. If you feel that you have either, or both, of these mental health conditions, don’t be discouraged.
ADHD and OCD are both very common conditions, but there’s good news: they’re treatable. Being dedicated to routinely using therapy and adhering to your medical treatment plan, you can learn to manage your symptoms and live a happier, healthier life.
“In the last 10 years, many adults have recognized they have symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Usually it’s diagnosed in school-aged children, but now adults are seeking to educate themselves so they can understand their symptoms.Therapy and medication can help manage ADHD symptoms.”Talkspace therapist Karmen Smith, LCSW, DD
Finding Help for ADHD or OCD
Understanding the differences between ADHD vs OCD is integral to learning to manage the symptoms you may be experiencing. Educate yourself about both conditions and be open to using various methods that can effectively help you manage the symptoms that you live with.
If you believe you have either comorbid ADHD or OCD, and your symptoms are interfering with your quality of life, reach out to your family doctor. They will likely recommend you to a mental health professional for an official diagnosis.
A combined OCD or ADHD treatment plan of medication, therapy, and holistic techniques can be highly effective. Many people see results much faster than they think they will. Medication can help you cope with your symptoms while you’re learning more holistic methods and working on other coping strategies in therapy. As your mindfulness and coping skills develop, you may even find that you need a lower dosage of medication to live a contented life.