ABSTRACT
There are a number of disorders that mimic attention deficit disorder (ADD) symptoms or at the very least exacerbate attention symptoms, resulting in a muddied diagnosis. Bipolar disorder is commonly seen as overlapping with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) hyperactive and combined subtypes. The same is true of the addictive personality or antisocial personality. Obsessive compulsive personality features typically develop as a means of bringing order to a sometimes chaotic ADD world and are evidenced more in ‘‘real ADD;’’ however, these are traits whereby symptoms do not take on the pathological significance that would be seen in a disorder. Instead these obsessive compulsive traits are adopted as coping mechanisms to help the overwhelmed ADD individual attempt to structure their world. The ADD individual thrives on structure and creates specific procedural routines to carry out mundane tasks of hygiene, completing chores, taking a shower, completing homework, and so on. There is a specific shower routine that must be followed. If someone had a bad day because they wore a specific outfit, or some specific issue occurred, then the compulsivity is turned towards avoiding any type of a reoccurrence, which may mean never wearing that outfit again.
