Main idea
Working memory can already be difficult for adults with ADHD. Anxiety may place additional demands on working memory and make those difficulties more noticeable.
A study of 439 adults with ADHD who were referred for neuropsychological evaluation found that higher anxiety symptoms were independently associated with poorer working-memory performance.
Depressive symptoms did not show the same independent association with working memory once the other variables in the model were considered.
What Is Working Memory?
Working memory is the ability to briefly hold information in mind while using it.
It is involved when someone is:
- following several instructions
- keeping track of steps in a task
- remembering what they were about to do
- holding part of a conversation in mind while responding
- doing mental calculations
- organizing information while making a decision
Why This May Matter for ADHD Women
An ADHD woman may notice that her memory and thinking feel much worse during periods of anxiety.
She may:
- lose track of what she is doing
- forget parts of conversations
- have difficulty following several instructions
- struggle to organize her thoughts
- repeatedly reread information
- forget what she intended to do next
This does not necessarily mean her ADHD has suddenly become more severe.
Anxiety may be adding another demand to a working-memory system that is already working hard.
Clinical Relevance
When an ADHD client reports suddenly feeling much more forgetful, scattered, or unable to think clearly, it may be useful to ask what else is happening.
Consider:
- current anxiety
- stress
- sleep
- sensory load
- emotional demands
- workload
- hormonal changes
- other demands on cognitive capacity
Working-memory difficulties should not automatically be understood as a fixed ADHD trait. They may fluctuate depending on what the person is managing.
Important Limitation
This study found an association between anxiety symptoms and working-memory performance.
It does not show that anxiety causes working-memory problems.
It also does not establish that anxiety is generally more harmful than depression. The finding was specific to working-memory performance in this sample and statistical model.
Connect This Note To
- ADHD and anxiety
- ADHD and working memory
- overwhelm and task difficulty
- executive function
- stress and capacity
Source
Applied Neuropsychology: Adult. PubMed PMID: 39757936.