How do I distinguish ADHD hyperactivity from PTSD hyperarousal?

ADHD and PTSD share enough surface-level symptoms - concentration deficits, psychomotor restlessness, irritability, chronic sleep disturbance - that each can convincingly masquerade as the other.

Should every ADHD evaluation include trauma screening?

ADHD and PTSD share enough surface-level symptoms - concentration deficits, psychomotor restlessness, irritability, chronic sleep disturbance - that each can convincingly masquerade as the other.

What happens if I treat ADHD without addressing underlying trauma?

ADHD and PTSD share enough surface-level symptoms - concentration deficits, psychomotor restlessness, irritability, chronic sleep disturbance - that each can convincingly masquerade as the other.

What are the specific clinical features that distinguish the two?

ADHD and PTSD share enough surface-level symptoms - concentration deficits, psychomotor restlessness, irritability, chronic sleep disturbance - that each can convincingly masquerade as the other.

How do I treat when both are genuinely present?

ADHD and PTSD share enough surface-level symptoms - concentration deficits, psychomotor restlessness, irritability, chronic sleep disturbance - that each can convincingly masquerade as the other.

Comorbidity

ADHD vs. PTSD Hyperarousal - Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Sequencing

Questions this summary answers

How do I distinguish ADHD hyperactivity from PTSD hyperarousal?
Should every ADHD evaluation include trauma screening?
What happens if I treat ADHD without addressing underlying trauma?
What are the specific clinical features that distinguish the two?
How do I treat when both are genuinely present?

Go Deeper

This summary distills key findings. For the full clinical discussion with complete citations, explore the source lessons.

Primary source

Comorbidity IIADHD + PTSD: Disentangling Hyperarousal

Also covered in

Evaluation & DiagnosisDifferential Diagnosis: What Mimics ADHD

Last updated: 2026-04-12

PsychHQ

ADHD vs. PTSD Hyperarousal - Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Sequencing