title: Sex- and Subtype-Related Differences in the Comorbidity of Adult ADHDs.
abstract: Comorbidity in adult ADHD (aADHD) has been investigated in a large number of studies using varying research approaches with divergent results. In contrast, there is limited information about sex- or subtype-related differences from studies with small sample size.
  
  
  
  A large sample of 910 individuals (458 males, 452 females) affected with aADHD was recruited at a tertiary referral center. All probands underwent a four-step procedure for diagnosing aADHD, including the Structured Clinical Interview of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) Axis I disorders to assess comorbidity. This study will provide additional information regarding the co-morbidity of Axis I disorders in the currently largest clinical referral sample. However, the main objective of this study is to gain information about sex- or subtype-related differences.
  
  
  
  Affected females show higher rates of mood (61% vs. 49%), anxiety (32% vs. 22%), and eating disorders (16% vs. 1%) than affected males, while substance use disorders were more frequent in affected males (45% vs. 29%), which mirrors sex differences in prevalence in the general population. There were hardly any relevant differences in comorbidities between subtypes, with the exception of the inattentive subtype having an especially low prevalence of panic disorder. Comorbidity in general and substance use disorders in particular, but not sex or subtype, were highly predictive of lower psychosocial status.
  
  
  
  Sex-related differences in the comorbidity of aADHD are more pronounced than subtype-related differences.
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Groß-Lesch
authors.affiliation: Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dempfle
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jans
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kittel-Schneider
authors.affiliation: Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thuy Trang
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lesch
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg, Germany psychpol@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: Christian Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Axis I; aADHD; comorbidity; sex; subtype