Covariation, co-occurrence and epiphenomenal correlation of empirically based syndromes in children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
This paper determines the co-occurrence and correlations of different problem behaviours in children and adolescents in German clinical and general population samples.


METHODS
The 2 samples were matched by age and gender (each sample n = 1,760). Including both categorical and dimensional models, rates of co-occurrence, relative risks, odds ratios and Pearson correlations were calculated.


RESULTS
The bidirectional comorbidity rates ranged from 7.3 to 34.3% (epidemiological sample) and from 22.5 to 54.8% (clinical sample). Most correlations between syndrome scales show medium or large effects. Many can be identified as 'epiphenomenal'; partial correlations from each pair, excluding influences of other syndromes, are much lower.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows the cross-cultural generalizability of comorbidity rates. The epiphenomenal nature of some comorbidities warrants future attention.
Döpfner
Manfred
M
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Plueck
Julia
J
Lehmkuhl
Gerd
G
Huss
Michael
M
Lenz
Klaus
K
Lehmkuhl
Ulrike
U
Poustka
Fritz
F
Schmeck
Klaus
K
Fegert
Joerg M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D036262:Empirical Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome