The relationship between autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an overview.

Matson et al. (2013) wrote a story-style review. They pulled together old papers that talk about kids who have both autism and ADHD.

The paper does not give new data. It only sums up what others already found.

The review says autism and ADHD often show up in the same child. It lists traits that overlap, like trouble sitting still and shifting attention.

No numbers or trials are given. The paper is a map, not a test.

Patra et al. (2019) zooms in on one drug. Their meta-analysis shows atomoxetine can mildly cut parent-rated hyperactivity in autistic kids with ADHD, but it also ups stomach pain and sleep loss. Matson et al. (2013) never named atomoxetine, so the newer paper adds a tool you can actually use.

Perez et al. (2015) checked hearts and reaction times. They found no heart-score gap between ASD+ADHD teens and ADHD-only teens, and stimulants helped speed equally in both groups. This extends Matson et al. (2013) by giving real physiology data that says the two diagnoses do not split cleanly on heart reactivity.

Murphy (1982) warned that stimulants often flop in autism. That view seems to clash with Perez et al. (2015), but the gap is about age and design. G relied on early case reports in kids with severe autism, while M used teen lab tasks. The field has simply moved on: teens with ASD+ADHD can respond to stimulants, but you still need to watch younger or more impaired children.

You now know the overlap is common, but the 2013 paper alone will not tell you what to do. Pair it with Patra et al. (2019) when parents ask about non-stimulant meds, and remember Perez et al. (2015) if heart worries block stimulant trials. Start with the broad map, then pick the later tool that fits your client’s age and profile.