Conditions that are similar to ADHD

Not all disruptive behaviour is caused by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Very intelligent children sometimes appear to have ADHD. They may misbehave if they are bored at school.

Some medical conditions can also make it appear that your child has ADHD. This is because their symptoms are similar. Your doctor may check for these conditions before diagnosing your child with ADHD.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Anxiety: This condition makes children feel worried, tense and uneasy for no good reason.
Mood disorders: Mood disorders include depression and bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder involves big mood swings and can be mistaken for ADHD.
Oppositional defiant disorder: Children have sudden outbursts of temper, act violently and lash out, or overreact to minor problems.
Learning disability: A learning disability can make it difficult for children to make progress at school.
Epilepsy: Epilepsy causes surges of electrical activity in your brain. These are called seizures or fits. Some types of seizure can make a child appear to have ADHD. They may seem to lack concentration and act rashly, or have sudden mood changes. To read more, see our information on Epilepsy.
Movement disorder: Children with this problem repeat certain movements over and over again. For example, they may rock backwards and forwards or bite their lip over and over again.

References

American Psychiatric Association Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. National Institute of Health, 2003. Available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm#cause, accessed 20 April 2006.
Zametkin AJ, Ernst M. Problems in the management of attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. New England Journal of Medicine. 1999; 340: 40-46.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Methylphenidate, atomoxetine and dexamfetamine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. March 2006. NICE technology appraisal 98. Available at http://www.nice.org.uk/ta098 (accessed on 25 January 2007).

Glossary

bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is a disease that involves big mood swings. It's also called manic depression. People with this condition have had, at least once, an episode of either mania or hypomania. Their mood is very high, and their behaviour may be out of control. They're also likely to have had a major depression, which is a period when their mood is very low.

This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.