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Quantitative and qualitative aspects of obsessive-compulsive behaviour in children with attention-deficit
G H Moll1, K Eysenbach, W Woerner
1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Objective:
Within the framework of associated psychopathology in child psychiatric disorders, this study focused on quantitative and qualitative aspects of obsessive-compulsive behaviour (OCB) in both attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and chronic tic disorder/Tourette's disorder (TD).
Method:
Forty-two healthy controls, 41 children with ADHD and 38 children with TD, aged 9-13 years, were investigated using the Leyton Obsessional Inventory--Child Version (LOI-CV), the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and an expert-rated structured parent interview to reflect a cross-informant view of OCB.
Results:
Unexpectedly, self-reports of children with ADHD rather than children with TD showed the highest OCB scores in the LOI-CV. Qualitatively, ADHD-related OCB focused on the item subsets concerning 'dirt and contamination', 'repetition', 'overconscientiousness', and 'hoarding'. In the parent-rated CBCL, similar levels of OCB were reported for ADHD and TD patients. In contrast, only children with TD showed clinically relevant OCB according to expert ratings.
Conclusion:
Not only young TD patients but also children with ADHD should be investigated and monitored carefully for quantitative and qualitative aspects of OCB comorbidity.