Impact of comorbid oppositional or conduct problems on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the presence of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) alters the correlates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Three groups of children (33 "pure" ADHD, 46 ADHD + ODD, and 12 ADHD + CD) were compared on measures of ADHD, aggression, anxiety, parental psychopathology, self-esteem, school, and social-emotional functioning.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that the presence of comorbid oppositional or conduct problems in children with ADHD altered the correlates of ADHD across a number of areas, including greater ADHD symptom severity and social dysfunction. Nevertheless, some correlates were more closely linked with the comorbid condition of ADHD + CD (e.g., higher aggression, anxiety, and maternal pathology, as well as decreased self-esteem), while others appeared more closely linked with ADHD + ODD (e.g., social withdrawal, elevated academic achievement paired with higher perceived scholastic competence).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support the distinctive profiles of the disruptive behavior disorder groups and emphasize the deleterious effects on the quality of life experienced by the comorbid conditions. The need for syndrome-specific interventions is stressed.
Kuhne
M
M
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Schachar
R
R
Tannock
R
R
D000124:Achievement; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment