title: Psychiatric Comorbidities in a New Zealand Sample of Adults With ADHD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the rates of psychiatric comorbidities within a New Zealand sample of adults with ADHD compared with a community control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  We merged six data sets to obtain a sample of 222 adults (158 ADHD, 64 controls). Comorbidities were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. text rev. [DSM-IV-TR]) Axis-I disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were equivalent in IQ, socioeconomic status, gender, education, income levels, and age. Lifetime rates of psychiatric disorders were significantly higher in the ADHD group (83%) versus the control group (52%) with higher rates of major depressive disorder (MDD; 65% vs. 36%), social phobia (31% vs. 11%), substance abuse (26% vs. 8%), and alcohol abuse (32% vs. 14%). Within the ADHD group, other than a group difference in specific phobias, there were no gender differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are consistent with international research; adults with ADHD in New Zealand have higher rates of psychiatric disorders than the general population.
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand julia.rucklidge@canterbury.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Julia J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rucklidge
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Downs-Woolley
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.|LightBox Psychology Services, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mairin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sarah-Eve
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Harrow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ADHD; adult; comorbidities; gender; psychiatric