   
Can Emotional Problems Cause ADHD?
Q:
"My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD last year, while my husband and I were in the middle of a divorce. I'm not convinced that she had these problems as a younger child. Is it possible for emotional problems to cause ADHD-like behaviors and lead to a misdiagnosis?" 
A:
ADHD is a biological disorder. If an individual has it, it has been present since early childhood. To make a diagnosis, the doctor should verify that symptoms - hyperactivity, inattention, and/or impulsivity - are chronic (have been evident at least since preschool) and pervasive (occur at different times and in different settings - school, home, during the summer). If your daughter's ADHD-like behaviors began only during your divorce and occur only at certain times (when she's visiting a parent, after hearing you argue), consider that a red flag. If this is the case, the problem is likely not ADHD, but behavior caused by psycho-social stressors. I would take your daughter back to the doctor, or get a second opinion. You may also want to see a family therapist for counseling.
Larry Silver, M.D., is the author of Dr. Larry Silver's Advice to Parents on AD/HD and The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child's Learning Disabilities. He is also a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
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