Nature of anxiety comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children from a pediatric primary care setting.
The clinical characteristics of children with comorbid anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD were examined. A sample of children from a pediatric primary care practice was assessed for anxiety disorders and ADHD. We defined four groups of children: (1) anxiety disorders only with no ADHD (n=54); (2) ADHD-only with no anxiety disorder (n=15); (3) neither ADHD nor an anxiety disorder (n=107); and (4) comorbid ADHD and anxiety disorder (n=14). Approximately 50% of children with ADHD had a comorbid anxiety disorder, and approximately 20% of children with an anxiety disorder had comorbid ADHD. The presence of comorbid ADHD and anxiety was associated with more attentional problems, school fears, and mood disorders and lower levels of social competence compared to children who had either ADHD-only or anxiety-only. Children with comorbid anxiety disorders and ADHD have more severe symptoms and are more impaired than children with either condition alone. Interventions need to be tailored to address the complexity of these comorbid conditions and their associated sequelae.
Bowen
Rudy
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. bowen@duke.usask.ca
Chavira
Denise A
DA
Bailey
Kelly
K
Stein
Martin T
MT
Stein
Murray B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012938:Social Perception