title: Comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult psychiatric outpatients with depressive or anxiety disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are very few studies reporting on the prevalence and the contribution of not previously diagnosed ADHD in the clinical picture of other psychiatric disorders. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adult psychiatric outpatients with depressive or anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 6-month period, 114 outpatients with depressive or anxiety disorders were evaluated for ADHD diagnosis. Assessment included interviews with both patient and relatives/friends and the use of a daily diary. Moreover, the patients completed the self-report scales Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger's Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Symptom Checklist-90-R Rating Scale (SCL-90-R).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 out of 114 patients (19.3%) received an ADHD diagnosis for the first time in their life. Comorbid ADHD compared to non ADHD patients scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) for depression (BDI), state and trait anxiety (STAI) and in the following SCL-90-R factors: Positive Symptoms Distressing Index, Positive Symptoms Index, Somatization, Obsessive Compulsive, Depression, Anxiety, and Hostility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD might go unrecognized among psychiatric outpatients. Patients with depressive or anxiety disorder reporting more severe symptomatology should be carefully screened for possible comorbid adult ADHD.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Artemios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pehlivanidis
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Areti C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Spyropoulou
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ADHD; adults; anxiety; depression