New Research Assesses the Most Common Disorders to Co-Occur with ADHD

While ODD is prevalent among some subtypes, depression and anxiety also affect a significant proportion of children with ADHD.

The current study, which will appear in the upcoming issue of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, assessed the comorbid conditions present in 342 children and adolescents with ADHD.

The most common disorders found in the participants, beginning with the most prevalent, were Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Minor Depression/Dysthymia (MDDD), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Among children with Hyperactive/Impulsive Type ADHD, approximately 40 percent also had ODD, and among those with Combined Type ADHD, approximately 50 percent had ODD. Only about 20 percent of children with Inattentive Type ADHD also had ODD, which did not differ significantly from the rates of MDDD and GAD found in that group. Further, the proportion of participants with comorbid MDDD or GAD did not vary significantly among the three ADHD subtype categories.

The researchers, led by Josephine Elia from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, concluded that more than half of children with ADHD also have a comorbid condition that may affect their functioning. Their data also suggested that Bipolar Disorder may be over-diagnosed in children who display ill-tempered behavior as part of a combination of Combined Type ADHD, ODD, and MDDD.

Read the full article online.