Research view

Title: Psychiatric comorbidities in a sample of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder children in pediatric psychiatric clinics of El-Dakahlia Hospital of Mental Health
Author: Lamiaa G. El Hamrawy, Somaia M. El Sayed, Mohamed R. Soltan and Osama M. Abd El-Gwad
Abstract:
Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders of childhood and is frequently associated with comorbid illnesses. Objective to the objective of this article was to determine the frequency of psychiatric comorbidities in a sample of children diagnosed with ADHD in El-Dakahlia Hospital of Mental Health and to assess the association between ADHD subtypes and the distribution of comorbid psychiatric disorders. Participants and methods The sample included 60 children aged 6–12 years diagnosed with ADHD on the basis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., criteria. Conner’s Parent Rating Scale-revised and the L and Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version were applied to diagnose ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was used to assess the intelligence quotient of all selected children. Results The prevalence of total psychiatric comorbidities in ADHD cases was 90% according to Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version. The most frequent psychiatric comorbid disorder was oppositional defiant disorder (55%), followed by comorbid nocturnal enuresis (33.3%), generalized anxiety disorder (33.3%), and depressive disorders (16.7%). Oppositional defiant disorder was more frequent in children diagnosed with ADHD-combined type (71.4%). Specific phobia disorder was more frequent in children diagnosed with ADHD-inattentive type (36.4%). There was no significant difference between females and males with respect to the prevalence of comorbid disorders. Conclusion High rates of psychiatric comorbidities were found in children with ADHD (90%). Thus, management of comorbidities as well as ADHD is required to obtain the best outcomes for the patients. Keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children, psychiatric comorbidity
Journal: Middle East Curr Psychiatry 24:134–141
Text:
Download