Co-occurring Anxiety in a Child With Autism and ADHD.
Molly Daffner-Deming, Devina Savant, Aqila Blakey-Armstrong and 4 others
PMID 40493916WHAT IT FOUND
In one child with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, neuropsych testing clarified overlapping symptoms.
Recommendations included school accommodations, modified CBT, and medication. Parent disagreement delayed treatment, requiring collaborative planning and separate meetings to ensure consistency.
Key findings
01Neuropsychological testing helped distinguish anxiety symptoms from autism and ADHD traits, confirming both diagnoses and identifying specific deficits in working memory, processing speed, and inhibition.
02Treatment recommendations included executive functioning supports, classroom accommodations, modified cognitive behavioral therapy, and continued pharmacological intervention for both anxiety and ADHD.
03Parental disagreement regarding symptoms delayed pharmacological treatment, highlighting the need for therapeutic plans that address family dynamics and ensure consistent communication between divorced parents.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so findings cannot be generalized to other children with autism, ADHD, and anxiety. The report describes clinical management and expert opinion rather than testing the efficacy of a specific intervention. Parental disagreement and family dynamics are specific to this case and may not apply to all patients. Pharmacological recommendations are based on general literature and expert consensus, not on this patient's controlled trial data.
Declared interests
None reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not view the positive response to escitalopram or the recommended treatments as evidence that they will work for other children with this comorbidity profile. This is a single case report describing one child's clinical course and expert opinions, not a trial of treatment efficacy.