Psychiatric Comorbidity in Children and Adolescentswith ADHD and in the subtypes of ADHD

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence rate of psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was 60-80%. The objective of this study was to examine comorbid disorders associated with ADHD and the subtypes of ADHD in children and adolescents with the diagnosis of ADHD. METHOD: The study included 326 children and adolescents aged between 8-15 years who were diagnosed with ADHD for the first time as a result of an interview by psychiatry, in a child adolescent psychiatry clinic in İzmir. Sociodemographic form, Turgay DSM-IV Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale and Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime version were used to assess psychiatric comorbidity. RESULTS: The comorbidities accompanied ADHD were disruptive behavior disorder (28.8%), depressive disorder (13.2%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (9.5%) and anxiety disorder (6.1%). When the subtypes of ADHD were assessed according to psychiatric comorbidity, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder were frequently seen with ADHD combined type, whereas anxiety disorder was more frequent with ADHD inattentive type. DISCUSSION: Comorbidity in ADHD Combined type increases the severity of disease, delays treatment response and exacerbates prognosis. Therefore, it is very important to determine which psychiatric diagnosis accompany with ADHD.