Child characteristics associated with comorbidities among children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background
More than half of children who are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were reported to have one or more comorbid psychiatric disorder. Our aim is to assess different comorbidities in children diagnosed with ADHD and to explore the association between the presence of such comorbidities and the characteristics of both the child and the family.
Patients and methods
The study included 48 children with ADHD who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The diagnosis of ADHD was made by semistructured clinical interview for both parents and child according to psychiatric sheet of Psychiatry Department of Zagazig University hospitals. Confirmation of diagnosis, severity, and subtype was done by revision and evaluation of child’s presentation according to DSM-5 criteria and the Conner’s Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales (parent’s version). Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID) was used to assess psychiatric comorbidities among children with ADHD.
Results
Approximately 77.1% of children with ADHD had at least one psychiatric comorbidity. Overall, 41.7% of the population of this study had externalizing disorders (disruptive behavior disorders), whereas 52.1% had internalizing disorder, including mood disorders (25%) and anxiety disorders (29.1%). In addition, neurodevelopmental disorders were comorbid in 27.1% of the population sample. Statistically significant differences between different groups of comorbidities regarding academic performance and ADHD subtype and severity were found.
Conclusion
Most children with ADHD have one or more comorbid psychiatric disorders. Children with ADHD and comorbidities are more prone to low academic performance and increased severity of ADHD.