title: Temperamental and character profiles of preschool children with ODD, ADHD, and anxiety disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present research was to identify profiles of Cloninger's temperament and character dimensions associated with anxiety disorders, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention- deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in preschoolers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The parents of 120 children (mean age=4.65 years; S.D.=.88) completed the Preschool Temperament and Character Inventory (PsTCI). The sample consisted of 4 groups (n=30 per group): ADHD, anxious, ODD and control children. To diagnose the different disorders, the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment and Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 was administered to the parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The discriminant analysis showed that three temperamental dimensions (Harm Avoidance, Novelty Seeking and Persistence) enabled the correct classification of 75% of cases within their own group, which demonstrated an adequate accuracy rate. The ADHD children showed a temperamental profile that was characterized by high Novelty Seeking, low Reward Dependence and low Persistence, while the anxious children obtained high scores in Harm Avoidance. The profiles of the ODD children shared some common features (high Novelty Seeking) with the ADHD children, but the ODD children were characterized by higher Persistence and Harm Avoidance compared with ADHD children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results indicate that Cloninger's temperamental dimensions allow to differentiate the three most frequent psychiatric disorders in preschoolers.
authors: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center "La Scarpetta", ASL RM/A, Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Melegari
authors: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center "La Scarpetta", ASL RM/A, Rome, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Nanni
authors: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Lucidi
authors: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: p.russo@unibo.it.
authors: Paolo M
authors: PM
authors: Russo
authors: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Pertini Hospital, ASL RM/B, Rome, Italy.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Donfrancesco
authors: Center for Well Being, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors: C Robert
authors: CR
authors: Cloninger
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013694:Temperament