Abstract
Objective:
Frequency of Conduct Disorder (CD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Special Learning Disorder (LD) and their relations to other clinical variables were examined in a clinical sample with diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Method:
Patient records of266 children with ADHD between ages 4-18 years, were evaluated retrospectively. In addition to clinical interview, Conners Parent Rating Scale, Conners Teacher Rating Scale and Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)-Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S), were used for diagnosis of ADHD and definition of subgroups. Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and Reading-Writing Test were used in the evaluation of LD diagnosis according to DSM-IV. In 5 children who referred before school age, LD comorbidity was determined after starting school.
Results:
CD was detected in 36.1%, ODD in 25.9% and LD in 21.7% of the cases. CD was most common among cases with combined type of ADHD and least common in predominantly inattentive type of ADHD. Clinical referral age was found lower in children with comorbid disruptive behavior disorders (CD and ODD). Maternal educational level was lower in LD cases. There were no associations between comorbidity and gender and IQ scores.
Conclusion:
The impact of comorbid diagnoses on clinical referral and treatment seeking in ADHD cases was discussed.
Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, comorbidity, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, special learning disorder
